Antibacterial Activity of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract on Some Enteric Pathogens

Abstract

Background: The antimicrobial activities of Moringa oleifera leaf extract against enteric pathogens have been documented. The present study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of M. oleifera leaf extract and its phytochemical constituents against clinical isolates of enteric origin. Materials and methods: The leaf extract of M. oleifera was prepared by cold maceration using methanol and distilled water. The antibacterial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were determined for the crude leaf extract by agar well diffusion method. Results: The results indicate that the aqueous leaf extract of M. oleifera has a notable antibacterial activity against the microorganisms tested. The maximum antibacterial activity was observed against E. coli (15 mm) in aqueous extract, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi (15mm) in methanol extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration was ranged from 400 to 300 mg/ml. Conclusion: The M. oleifera leaf extract was found to contain some bioactive constituents, however further phytochemical studies and their characterization will be needed to isolate the active constituents and evaluate the antimicrobial activities against a wider range of bacterial pathogens.