Antimicrobial Properties of Crude Ethanolic Extract of Ficus exasperata Root

Abraham-O, J.¹, Odiba, P.A.¹, Okpanachi, E.², Miachi, O.E.¹ and Ocheja, F.B.¹

¹Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria.

²Amnesty Hospital Ankpa, Kogi State, Nigeria.

E-mail: josephoyiguh@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Pathogenic microorganisms are becoming increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics at alarming rates, creating problems in health care delivery in man and animals, thus shifting attention towards the use of herbs by traditional healers. Also several important drugs have been discovered from plants which are now synthesized chemically for commercial purposes. In this study, the ethanolic extract of F. exasperata was screened against Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Fresh roots of F. exasperata were collected from its natural habitat and extraction carried out using Soxhlet extractor. Agar well diffusion method was used to determine the inhibitory property and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract at 300 mg/ml, 400 mg/ml and 500 mg/ml. The extract did exhibit antimicrobial property on S. typhi;antimicrobial effect was observed on S. dysenteriae at 500 mg/ml which is the MIC while P. aeruginosa was susceptible at 300 mg/ml thus having an MIC of < 300 mg/ml. The extract had activity on two of the organisms studied and could be a source of novel compound for the control of infections caused by these organisms. The active components responsible for the antimicrobial activity should be determined, separated and studied.