E.I ATUANYA

Plants are the most abundant natural primary source of drugs utilized to treat ailment,s and several plants rich in phytochemicals used as medicine have Nigerian origin. Locally, extracts of plants such as roots, stems, flowers, and fruits are used in the treatment of diseases. This study evaluates the antimicrobial potency of leaves of culinary relevant local Nigerian plants; Gongronema latifolium (Utazi) and Gnetum africanum (Okazi) against selected clinically relevant bacterial and fungal species- Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, Candida sp and Trichophyton sp. It also served to assess the phytochemical constituents that contribute to their effectiveness as antimicrobial agents. The leaves were obtained, identified, pulverized, and then the leaves extracts were prepared with cold water and methanol. The phytochemical composition of the leaves were determined using standard procedures. The antimicrobial potency was evaluated at concentrations of 2000mg/ml, 1000mg/ml, 500mg/ml and 250mg/ml. Ethanolic extracts proved to be more potent demonstrating broader zones of inhibition and bactericidal activity. Gongronema latifolium (Utazi) aqueous extracts demonstrated higher antimicrobial activity compared to their ethanol counterparts against Gram-negative Klebsiella sp (20.00mm) and fungal Trichophyton sp (15.00mm), while Gnetum africanum (Okazi) aqueous extract was more active against Candida sp (15.00mm). The leaf extracts demonstrated only static activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This study further reinforces the basis of the use of traditional plants in the treatment of microbial infections. However, future investigation on the mechanism of action, toxicity level is essential to fully optimize the potential of G. latifolium (Utazi) and G. africanum (Okazi) as therapeutic agents in the treatment of infections caused by microorganisms.

Plants are the most abundant natural primary source of drugs utilized to treat ailment,s and several plants rich in phytochemicals used as medicine have Nigerian origin. Locally, extracts of plants such as roots, stems, flowers, and fruits are used in the treatment of diseases. This study evaluates the antimicrobial potency of leaves of culinary relevant local Nigerian plants; Gongronema latifolium (Utazi) and Gnetum africanum (Okazi) against selected clinically relevant bacterial and fungal species- Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, Candida sp and Trichophyton sp. It also served to assess the phytochemical constituents that contribute to their effectiveness as antimicrobial agents. The leaves were obtained, identified, pulverized, and then the leaves extracts were prepared with cold water and methanol. The phytochemical composition of the leaves were determined using standard procedures. The antimicrobial potency was evaluated at concentrations of 2000mg/ml, 1000mg/ml, 500mg/ml and 250mg/ml. Ethanolic extracts proved to be more potent demonstrating broader zones of inhibition and bactericidal activity. Gongronema latifolium (Utazi) aqueous extracts demonstrated higher antimicrobial activity compared to their ethanol counterparts against Gram-negative Klebsiella sp (20.00mm) and fungal Trichophyton sp (15.00mm), while Gnetum africanum (Okazi) aqueous extract was more active against Candida sp (15.00mm). The leaf extracts demonstrated only static activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This study further reinforces the basis of the use of traditional plants in the treatment of microbial infections. However, future investigation on the mechanism of action, toxicity level is essential to fully optimize the potential of G. latifolium (Utazi) and G. africanum (Okazi) as therapeutic agents in the treatment of infections caused by microorganisms.