Abstract

COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF BRYOPHYLLUM PINNATUM AND CITRUS LEMON ON PATHOGENIC BACTERIA ISOLATES

*Mbata C. A.

Abstract

Antimicrobial activities of Bryophyllum pinnatum and Lemon Juice extract against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were investigated. Blanched and ethanol extract of the leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum extract were prepared and dilutions were impregnated into filter paper disc. The dilutions were made in 1:10, 1:100, 1:1000 and 1:10000. The lemon juice was also diluted in the concentrations of 1:10, 1:100, 1:1000 and 1:10000 and impregnated into filter paper. Agar dilution method was used for the sensitively testing. The organisms showed resistance to the blanched leaves. The result of the ethanol extract showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus showed susceptibility to the crude extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum and lemon juice with a mean zone diameter of inhibition from 10mm to 15mm. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli showed sensitivity at 1:10 at 10-13mm while Staphylococcus aureus was resistant. The degree of zone of inhibition however differs, but lemon extract exhibited a higher inhibitory zone for isolates than Bryophyllum pinnatum especially on Pseudomonas aeruginosa in which it still showed inhibitory effect at 1:1000 dilution. Conclusively, Bryophyllum pinnatum extract and lemon extracts are potential antimicrobial agents.

Keywords: Antimicrobial agents, Impregnated, Organisms, Susceptibility, Blanched.