International Journal of Phytotherapy and Ethnobotany

International Journal of Phytotherapy and Ethnobotany ISSN 4536-1835 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 096-100, May, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants used in Nigeria

Ajayi A.O.

Department of Microbiology, Adekunle Ajasin University, P.M.B. 01, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 04 March, 2016

Abstract

Forty eight medicinal plants in Nigeria were screened for their antimicrobial activity. Twenty three (47.91%) of the plants caused over 70% mortality of the test organism which include anopheline and culicine larva. Bacillus spp. and Escherichia coli were shown to be susceptible to the antimicrobial activity of some plants. The antimicrobial activities of plants examined in this study showed that plants are capable of producing toxic materials, which may exert some physiological effect on the target organisms.

Key words: Antimicrobial, medicinal, nature, Nigeria, plants.