ABSTRACT
Moringa oleifera is a fast growing, drought resistant tree of the family Moringaceae, native to tropical and subtropical countries. The plant leaves are very good nutrient supplement for malnutrition and used as antibiotics. This study was aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial activity of Moringa oleifera leaves extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli from stool sample. The antimicrobial screening of ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves were done against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The ethanolic extracts of Moringa showed a diameter zone of inhibition of 23mm against Staphylococcus aureus at 200mg/ml and a diameter zone of inhibition of 22mm against Escherichia coli at 200mg/ml. it was observed that the two micro-organisms were sensitive to ethanolic extract of moringa at 200mg/ml respectively. Agar well diffusion method was used to access the antibacterial effect of the extract on both gram negative and gram positive microorganisms. The Minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations of moringa against Staphylococcus aureus were 25mg/ml and 50mg/ml respectively and Escherichia coli 6.25mg/ml and 12.5mg/ml respectively. The phytochemical screening shows the presence of bioactive supplements such as tannins, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
page i
Certification
iii
Dedication
iv
Acknowledgements
v
Table
of Contents vi
List
of Tables ix
List
of Figures x
List
of Plates xi
Abstract
xii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Plant description 3
1.2 Aims
and objectives 4
1.3 Justification 4
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature review 5
2.1 Medicinal plant 5
2.2 Phytomedical plant 6
2.3 Morphological
characters 8
2.4 Ecological
aspects of M. Oleifera 8
2.5 Traditional
health benefits of M. Oleifera leaves 9
2.6 Nutritional facts and pharmacological
properties of M. Oleifera 10
2.7 Nutritional
benefits 10
2.8 Health
benefits 12
2.8.1 Health Benefits of Moringa 12
2.8.2 Lower Blood Sugar Levels 13
2.8.3 Reduces Cholesterol 13
2.8.4 Protects Liver 13
2.8.5 Treats Stomach Disorders 14
2.8.6 Skin Care & Hair Care 14
2.8.7 Antibacterial Agent 15
2.8.8 Anticancer Properties 15
2.8.9 Improves Bone Health 16
2.8.10 Immunosuppressive Properties 16
2.8.11 Improves eye health 17
2.9 Uses of moringa 17
2.10- Antimicrobial
activity 18
2.11 Anti-inflammatory
activity 19
2.12 Methods of plant extract preparation 20
2.12.1 Plant materials 20
2.12.2 Choice of solvent 21
2.12.3 The extraction methods 21
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Materials and method 23
3.1 Collection of plant materials 23
3.2 Preparation of plant extract 23
3.3 Ethanol extract preparation 23
3.4 Media used 23
3.4.1 Media preparation 24
3.5 Collection of test organisms 24
3.6 Microbiological
analysis 24
3.6.1 Isolation and Identification of the Bacteria
from Stool Sample 24
3.6.2 Purification and storage of the bacteria 24
3.6.3 Colonial morphology 25
3.6.4 Gram staining 25
3.7 Biochemical tests 26
3.7.1 Coagulase test 26
3.7.2 Indole test 26
3.7.3 Catalase test 26
3.7.4 Oxidase test 27
3.7.5 Susceptibility testing 27
3.8 Determination of minimum inhibitory
concentration 28
3.9 Minimum
bactericidal concentration (mbc) 28
3.10 Phytochemical analysis 28
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Results 30
CHAPTER
FIVE
5.0 Discussion
Conclusion Recommendation 36
5.1 Discussion 36
5.2 Conclusion 37
5.3 Recommendation 37
References 38
LIST OF TABLES
|
TABLE
|
TITLE
|
PAGE
|
|
1
|
Plant parts Health benefits
|
9
|
|
2
|
Nutritional Value of Moringa leaf
|
11
|
|
4.1
|
Biochemical test
|
31
|
|
4.2
|
Antimicrobial
activity of ethanolic extract of Moringaoleifera
leaves on Staphylococcus aureus and
Escherichia coli
|
32
|
|
4.3
|
Minimum
inhibitory concentration and minimum bacterial concentration of ethanol
extract of moringa against test organisms
|
34
|
|
4.4
|
Phytochemical screening of M.
oleifera leaves
|
35
|
LIST OF FIGURES
1: Showing moringa leaf 3
2: Showing moringa flower 3
3: Showing moringa pods 3
4: Showing moringa seeds 3
CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Medicinal
plants have posed as natural resources of compounds with pharmacological and
nutritional properties aiding humans to prevent and treat diseases (El Sohaimy
et al., 2015). According to world health organization
several varieties of drugs can be derived from medicinal plants. There is a
continuous and urgent need to discover new antimicrobial compounds with peculiar
potentials to be developed as future phytopharmaceuticals to treat a myriad of
pathophysiological conditions (Ivana et
al., 2018).
Among
several plants evaluated in bioprospective studies, Moringa oleifera (Lam) (M.
oleifera), popularly known, in Brazil, as “moringa”, “líriobranco” or “quiabo-de-quina”, and, in some parts of the world, as
drumstick tree or horseradish tree, has stood out in alternative medical
therapies, showing benefits for the control of several diseases .
Moringa extracts have widespread use by doctors, healers, nutritionist to treat
under nutrition and anemia, especially in children and infants (Raimunda et al., 2017).
Moringa oleifera, Lam (M.
oleifera), also known as MoringapterygospermaGaertn, a member of the
Moringaceae family of perennial angiosperm plants, which includes 12 other
species (Leone et al., 2015).
It is a fast-growing, deciduous tree that is native to India and is widely
cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas all over Asia, Africa, and South
America (Meenakshi, 2019), where
it is known by various vernacular names (Raimunda et al., 2017), with drumstick tree, Horseradish tree, Ben
oil tree and malunggay. Moringa oleifera is an edible plant. A
wide variety of nutritional and medicinal virtues have been attributed to its
roots, bark, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds (Anwar et al., 2007). Phytochemical analyses have shown that its leaves
are particularly rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamins A and
D, essential amino acids, as well as such known antioxidants such as
β-carotene, vitamin C, and flavonoids (Amaglo et al., 2010).
On the
Internet, M. oleifera is variably
labeled as Miracle Tree, Tree of Life, Mother’s Best Friend, God’s Gift to Man,
Savior of the Poor. In many regions of Africa, it is widely consumed for
self-medication by patients affected by diabetes, hypertension, or HIV/AIDS
(Kasolo et al., 2010)Various parts of M. oleifera crude extracts showed potential antibacterial, antifungal,
antioxidant. Anti-inflammatory gastro-protective, neuro pharmacological (Bakre,
et al., 2013). analgesic,
hyperchlesterolaemic, Anaesthetic, wound healing, anti-tumour , anti-spasmodic,
anti-depressant antiviral and anticancer properties.
It is distributed mainly in India, Ethiopia,
Philippines and Sudan and is also being grown in West, East and South Africa,
tropical Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Florida and the Pacific Islands
(Fahey JW., 2015). Although modern science has recently
discovered its value, moringa has been imparting a multitude of benefits across
various cultures since ancient times. It was valued by the Romans, Egyptians,
and Greeks for its medicinal impact on a range of ailments. Today, its usage
has been encouraged by various humanitarian organizations to combat
malnutrition and its effects in poverty-stricken regions, mainly due to its
economic viability and rapid growth. Due to its extraordinary and unmatched
range of medicinal benefits, it was named the “miracle tree” during the food
crisis in Africa (Meenakshi, 2019).
1.1 Plant
description
M. oleifera
is a small or middle sized tree, about 10 m in height. M. oleifera is cultivated throughout India. It is found wild and
cultivated throughout the plains, especially in hedges and in house yards,
thrives best under the tropical insular climate, and is plentiful near the
sandy beds of rivers and streams (Anwar, et
al., 2007) M. oleifera has
drumstick-like fruits, small white flowers and small and teardrop shaped round
leaves, which are cooked and eaten as vegetable (Nambiar, 2006), M. oleifera grows very quickly and if
cuttings are planted close together they will form fence that livestock cannot
get through in just three months (Karthika , et al., 2013).
Fig 1:
Picture of Morigna leaf
|
Fig 2:
Picture of Moringa flower
|
Fig 3:
Picture of Morigna pods
|
Fig 4:
Picture of Morigna seeds
|
Moringa oleifera
a fast growing evergreen or delicious tree that usually grows up to 10 to 12m
in its height, open crown of drooping fragile branches, feathery foliage of
trip innante leaves and thick corky, whitish bark. Moringa oleifera is used as a highly nutritive vegetable in many
countries. Traditionally its roots are applied as plaster to reduce the
swelling and rheumatism. Moringa is rich in antioxidants and nutrients and its
powerful health benefits include its ability to protect the liver, fight
inflammation, and lower cholesterol. Moringa extract and powder can help give
relief from stomach disorders, allergies, and edema. Moringa can help in
managing diabetes, protect the eyes, improve cardiovascular health, enhance
bone health, speed wound healing, and boost skin health. It has potent antibacterial
and antifungal properties (Meenakshi, 2019).
1.2 Aims and objectives
i.
To investigate the
antibacterial activities of the extracts of moringa
oleifera against Staphylococcus
aureus and Escherichia coli
ii.
To determine the minimum
bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the leaves extract of moringa oleifera
iii.
To determine the minimum
inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the leave extract of moringa oleifera.
iv.
To
conduct phytochemical screening of Moringa
oleifera against Staphylococcus aureus
and Escherichia
coli.
1.3 Justification
Due
to the rising cost of synthetic medicine and emergence of drug resistance, a
good number of people have deviated to plant derivatives for their health care.
This justified the decision to screen the therapeutic potential of the selected
plant leave extract against the chosen organisms.
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