The Antibacterial Evaluation of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extracts on Selected Bacterial Pathogens

The Antibacterial Activity Of Leaf Extracts Of Moringa oleifera Lam Belonging To The Family Moringaceae Was Determined Using Agar Diffusion Methods. Two Solvents, Water And Chloroform, Were Used For Extraction Of The Active Ingredients In The Plant. The Crude Chloroform Extract Showed Remarkable Activity Against The Growth Of Escherichia Coli, Salmonella Typhi And Pseudomonas aeruginosa With The Diameter Zones Of Inhibition (DZI) Of 30±0.01, 26±0.03 And 20±0.04 Respectively. The Aqueous Extract Of The Leaf Of This Plant Showed Activity Against E. Coli And S. Typhi Showing Diameter Zones Of Inhibition Of 20±0.03 And 18±0.01 But P. aeruginosa Was Resistant At All Test Concentrations. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Ranges From 10-20mg/Ml While The Minimum Bactericidal Concentration Ranges From 20-40mg/Ml. The Phytochemical Screening Of Samples Revealed The Presence Of Secondary Metabolites Such As Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Saponins And Tannins. If Well Researched Into And Refined With The Determination Of Its Toxicity, M. oleifera Could Be A Valuable Drug In The Treatment Of Infections Caused By The Test Organisms.