ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF CRUDE EXTRACTS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA, HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA AND HIBISCUS ESCULENTUS SEEDS AGAINST SOME ENTEROBACTERIA

The purpose of this work is to determine the basic antiseptic activity of two Hibiscus species in comparison with the already established antibacterial activity of Moringa oleifera seeds. Crude extracts were obtained from Moringa oleifera, Hibiscus esculentus and Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds using water but essential oils were extracted only from Moringa oleifera using hexane. All the extracts showed varying degrees of inhibition on the tested organisms. On analysing for any significant difference between the treatments, no statistically significant differences could be established between treatments of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Hibiscus esculentus as well as Moringa oleifera and Hibiscus esculentus extracts. The study shows that the antimicrobial properties of Hibiscus esculentus seeds compare favourably with those of already popular Moringa oleifera seeds. The use of the Hibiscus esculentus and Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds in drinking water treatment should be explored.