Antibacterial activity of Moringa oleifera (lam) seed against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Medicinal plants represent a rich source from which antimicrobial agents may be obtained and are used medicinally in different countries as source of many potent and powerful drugs. Moringa oleifera Lam. Is found to be very useful tree in tropical countries. All parts of the tree are used in different healing procedures for different diseases. The antibacterial activity of Moringa oleifera (lam) seed against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus was investigated in this study. The maceration method was used to extract the plant seed material. Phytochemical analyses of the seeds in ethanol solvents were also performed. The antibacterial effect of the extracts on the test organisms was evaluated using the agar-well diffusion method. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the seed crude extract were evaluated to determine the static and cidal effect of the seed extract against the test bacteria. The results showed that the extract contained steroids, terpenoids, phenol, alkaloids, and tannins but no saponins, flavonoids, and anthraquinones. The antibacterial activity was exceptional against both bacteria with zones of inhibition of 17.33±0.58mm at 200 mg/ml, 16.33±0.34mm at 100 mg/ml, and 15.33±0.11mm at 50 mg/ml for Staphylococcus aureus, and 13.67±0.21mm at 200mg/ml 12.67±0.22mm at 100mg/ml, 11.67±0.05mm at 50mg/ml for Streptococcus pneumoniae. Because Moringa oleifera seeds were found to have significant antibacterial activity against the microorganisms tested, the findings of this study support Moringa oleifera's traditional use and can be recommended for use as an antimicrobial agent.