ISSN 2326-7267
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-007, December, 2010. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts of Senna obtusifolia (L)
Doughari, J. H*, El-mahmood, A. M. and Tyoyina, I
Department of Microbiology, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Technology, PMB 2076 Yola 64002 Adamawa State, Nigeria.
Accepted 22 July, 2010
Abstract
Antimicrobial properties of leaf extracts of Senna obtusifolia (L) were investigated against both clinical and laboratory isolates of both bacteria and fungi using the disc diffusion method. Acetone extracts (12 mm zone diameter of inhibition, MIC 200 g/mL and MBC 300 g/mL) demonstrated the highest activity, followed by dichloromethane (8 mm zone diameter of inhibition, MIC 300 g/mL and MBC 400 g/mL), methane (7 mm zone diameter of inhibition, MIC 400 g/mL and MBC 400 g/mL) and hexane (6 mm zone diameter of inhibition, MIC 800 g/mL and MBC 1000 g/mL). Water extracts demonstrated the least activity against the test bacteria and fungi (4 mm zone diameter of inhibition, MIC 800 g/mL and MBC 800 g/mL). Phytotoconstituents present included Saponins, Tannins, Alkaloids and Flavonoids. S. obtusifolia (L) can be used to source antibiotic substances for possible treatment of bacterial and fungal infections including gonorrhea, pneumonia, urinary tract and some mycotic infections.
Key words: Senna obtusifolia (L), antimicrobial property, extract antibiotic.