Abstract

THE ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF MORINGA OLEIFERA SEEDS, LEAVES, AND FLOWERS

Sahar M. Kheir, Kafi S K and Haitham Elbir

Abstract

Background: Moringa oleifera was traditionally used in west Sudan for purification of water. In this study, ether, alcohol and water extracts of Moringa oleifera (seeds, leaves and flowers) were tested for their antimicrobial effect against control strains and 155 clinical bacterial isolates. The isolates included gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, P. mirabilis, P. aeruginosa, K. Pneumoniae, Salmonella tyhimurium, Enterobacter species, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi B, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei and Serratia marcescens). While gram-positive bacteria included (S. aureus, MRSA, S. epidermidis, Diphtheroid, S. faecalis, S. pyogenes, L. monocytogenes and Streptomyces somaliensis). Methods: The phytochemical screening of Moringa oleifera (seeds, leaves and flowers) extracts was performed using qualitative determination whilst the antimicrobial activity of ether, alcohol and water extracts of seeds, leaves and flowers was performed using agar diffusion and macrobroth dilution method. Results: The results of the phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, tannins and saponin. The studied extracts displayed no activity on gram-negative bacteria whilst displayed various degrees of antibacterial activities against gram-positive bacteria. The extract of seed alcohol, seed water and leaf alcohol was active against all gram-positive. The extract of seed alcohol was very active against S. aureus, Diphtheriod, with the lowest recorded minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 31.25mg/ml, while the seed water extract was very active against S. aureus, Diphtheriod with lowest recorded MIC of 62. 5mg/ml. Conclusion: The results of the present study support that Moringa oleifera has antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria tested herein.

Keywords: antimicrobial, Moringa oleifera (leaves, seeds, flower), phytocomponents, Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).