Evaluation of Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties of Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax. & Hoffman
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Date
2015-02-24
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Abstract
Alchornea laxiflora leaf extract was tested against a range of microorganisms using standard microbiological methods for antimicrobial activities. Theextract inhibited thegrowth of all thebacterial and 15fungal isolates tested. Thezones of inhibition exhibited against the test bacteria ranged between 12mm and 24mm and between 11mm and 24mm for the extract and the antibiotic streptomycin, respectively. The zones of inhibition observed against the fungal isolates by the extract ranged between 12mm and 23mm. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) exhibitedbytheextractagainsttestbacteriarangedbetween0.78mg/mL–25mg/mLand1.56mg/mL–25mg/mL,respectively,while theMICsandminimumfungicidalconcentrations(MFCs)valuesforthetestfungirangedbetween8.75mg/mL–35.00mg/mLand 8.75mg/mL–35.00mg/L,respectively.Thepreliminaryphytochemicalscreeningoftheextractrevealedthepresenceofalkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, and reducing sugars as major phytoconstituents in the extract. A. laxiflora leaf extract is a potent source of antibacterial and antifungal compounds; further studies on the extract are ongoing in our laboratories to elucidate the probablemechanism(s)ofactiononbacteriaandfungifoundtobesusceptibletotheextract
Description
International Journal of Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine,Page 7
Keywords
Antibacterial, Antifungal, Alchornea laxiflora, Pax. & Hoffman, microorganisms