Impact of Moringa aqueous extract on pathogenic bacteria and fungi in vitro

Abstract

Moringa peregrine have many benefits. In this study aqueous extract of Moringa plant inhibited the activity of these bacteria which include Bacillus cereus; Staphylococcus aureus; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli; Enterococcus cloacae; Salmonella typhi and; Proteus vulgaris. Moringa extracts has shown an impact on the growth of bacteria on the Blood with inhibition zone variable (23.5 ± 0.45 to 12.5 ± 0.50 mm) according to the type of bacteria. The mean growth inhibition percentages were 85.9 ± 0.42 to 65.3 ± 0.34 nm against all tested bacteria. As regards to fungi, high potency extract displayed zones of inhibition of ⩾10 mm, moderate potent extracts gave zones of inhibition between <10 and 9 mm. The results indicated that, Moringa aqueous extract played variable antifungal activity ranged from high (18 ± 0.54 mm), moderate (13.2 ± 0.58 mm) and low (6.6 ± 0.47 mm). The inhibition zones diameter in millimeters against A. niger, A. flavus, P. italicum, F. oxysporum, R. stolonifer, Alternaria sp., C. albicans, C. parapsilosis were 15.2 ± 0.52, 12.4 ± 0.55, 10.5 ± 0.26, 9.4 ± 0.71, 13.2 ± 0.58, 6.6 ± 0.47, 12 ± 0.44 and 18 ± 0.54, respectively. On the other hand, the mean inhibition of growth (as percentages) were 75.2 ± 0.55, 59.4 ± 0.75, 58.2 ± 0.63, 46.5 ± 0.63, 62.5 ± 0.77, 24.5 ± 0.65, 20.3 ± 0.75 and 80.00 ± 0.70% respectively. Thus, the aqueous extract of Moringa leaves showed antimicrobial activity against tested bacteria, fungi and yeasts at different concentrations.