Abstract
The in vitro antibacterial activity of crude methanolic extract of the seeds of Garcinia kola was investigated. The extracts exhibited antibacterial activities with zones of inhibition ranging from 10 mm to 25 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the diethyl ether fraction was between 0.313 and 5.0 mg/ml, while that of butanol fraction varied from 0.157 to 5.0 mg/ml. The butanol fraction killed about 77% of Bacillus anthracis and 79% of Escherichia coli cells within 120 min at a concentration of 5.0 mg/ml. Protein leakage from the B. anthracis and E. coli cells when exposed to the butanol and diethyl ether fractions was observed. We conclude that Garcinia kola seed extract has a broad spectrum antibacterial activity, with the butanol and diethyl ether fractions being bactericidal as exemplified by the killing rate and protein leakage regimes, which suggest cell membrane disruption as a mechanism of action of the extract.
Highlights
Medicinal plants have been used as folklore remedies over the years to treat, manage or control man’s ailments
We conclude that Garcinia kola seed extract has a broad spectrum antibacterial activity, with the butanol and diethyl ether fractions being bactericidal as exemplified by the killing rate and protein leakage regimes, which suggest cell membrane disruption as a mechanism of action of the extract
The following typed cultures and locally isolated (LIO) organisms obtained from the culture collection of the Microbiology Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria were used for this study: Gram-positive: Bacillus subtilis (NCIB 3610), Staphylococcus aureus (NCIB 8588), Enterococcus faecalis (NCIB 775), Micrococcus luteus (NCIB 196), Bacillus cereus (NCIB 6349), Bacillus stearothermophillus (NCIB 8222), Bacillus polymyxa (LIO), Bacillus anthracis (LIO), Staphylococcus epidermidis (LIO), Clostridium sporogenes (NCIB 532), Corynebacterium pyogenes (LIO)
Summary
Medicinal plants have been used as folklore remedies over the years to treat, manage or control man’s ailments. They contain large varieties of chemical substances that possess important therapeutic properties used in the treatment of these ailments. A typical example of such plants is Garcinia kola. G. kola is used in folklore remedies for the treatment of ailments such as liver disorders, hepatitis, diarrhoea, laryngitis, bronchitis and gonorrhoea (Iwu, 1993; Adesina et al, 1995). Iwu (1993) reported the use of this plant for the treatment of jaundice, high fever, purgative and chewing stick.
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