Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 1 (3), 108-111, December 2006          
ISSN 1992-2248 © 2006 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Differential antimicrobial activity of the various crude leaves extracts of Sesame radiatum against some common pathogenic micro-organisms

Shittu, L. A. J.¹*, Bankole, M. A.², Ahmed, T.³, Aile, K.⁴, Akinsanya, M. A.⁵, Bankole, M. N.⁶, Shittu, R. K.⁷ and Ashiru, O. A.¹

¹Department of Anatomy, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria.

²Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria.

³Department of Microbiology, Drug Quality Control Laboratory/Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Medical Microbiology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos,  Nigeria.

⁵Department of Medical Biochemistry, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

⁶Diarrhea Unit, Microbiology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.

⁷Medical Microbiology Unit, Bolomedics Laboratories, Egbeda, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author's E-Mail: drlukemanjoseph@yahoo.com.

Accepted 12 December, 2006

Concern about the rising prevalence of antibiotics resistant strains pathogenic micro-organisms has been expressed in the last three decades. However, intensive studies on extracts and biologically active compounds isolated from medicinal plants have also doubled in the last decade. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Sesame radiatum leaves were studied for in-vitro antimicrobial activity using agar diffusion method. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) phytochemical screening showed the presence of essential oils mainly the phenolic and carboxylic acids groups. The ethanolic extract mildly inhibited the growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Candida albicans, while there was no inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aurogenosa and Escherichia coli. However, aqueous extract exhibited no inhibitory effect on all the five tested micro-organisms.

Key words: Pathogenic micro-organisms, anti-microbial, sesame leaves, GC-MS.