Antibacterial Activity of Azadirachita indica and Psidium guajava Extracts against Three Bacterial Strains.

Abstract

Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of two Nigerian plant species used in folk medicine were investigated for their antibacterial activities against three bacteria strains: staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa and proteus mirabilis. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of some bioactive components like alkaloids, saponin, tannin, glycoside and flavonoids. The plants exhibited antibacterial activity with significant different between the two plants. The most active plant was psidium guajava. Most of the tested plant extracts were active against staphylococcus aureus. Of all extracts, the hot water extract of psidium guajava was the most active (diameter ranges between 3.09±0.14 – 12.14±0.09 mm) followed by its ethanol extract with diameter ranges between 3.07±0.07 – 9.25±0.03mm. Most of the studied plants are potentially a good source of antibacterial agent and have been demonstrated to be important in medicine and in assisting primary health care in many part of the world.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity, bacterial strains, Phytochemical components.