E.A. Ophori

The antibacterial activities of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) against some Gram positive isolates such as Staphylococcus aureus and interococcus faecalis were assayed using ethanol extract. The agar-well and paper disc diffusion method were used to determine the inhibitory effect of the thyme leaves on the tested microorganism. The extract produced different zone of inhibition on the tested organism. The ethanol extract had the highest antibacterial effect against interococcus faecalis (21.6±3.51 mm) at 100% and Staphylococcus aureus has the lowest zone of inhibition (21.3±3.2l mm) at 100%, while at 75% Enterococcus faecalis had the highest zone of inhibition (l 7±2.64 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus has the lowest zone of inhibition (12.3±2.5l mm), while at 62% Enterococcus faecalis showed the highest zone of inhibition (12±3.46 mm) while Staphylococcus aureus has the lowest zone of inhibition (11.3±1.52 mm). The ethanol extract had the highest antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus (20.6±4.04 mm) at 87% and Enterococcus faecalis has the lowest zone of inhibition (20.3±1.52 mm) at 87% while at 50% Staphylococcus aureus showed the highest zone of inhibition (6.33±1.15 mm) while Enterococcus faecalis has the lowest zone of inhibition (5±0 mm). Among these isolates, Enterococcus faecalis were highly sensitive to the thyme oil at different percentage (100%, 75%, 62%) while Staphylococcus aureus were little more sensitive to the thyme oil at 87% and 50% using the same solvent (ethanol). The increase in multidrug resistant strains of pathogenic microorganism has led to extensive phytochemical and pharmacological studies of Thymus vulgaris as an important source of medicinal substances which possess antibacterial properties and their effective medicinal application, as well as use in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries

Spices are food supplements or food products commonly used as flavouring and colouring agents, preservatives and/or herbs in folk medicine. Murraya koenigii (Linn, Spreng), (Family-Rutaceae) is a type of spice commonly called Curry leaves found in tropical and sub-tropical region and cultivated in China, Australia and Nigeria. It known as efirin oso in Yoruba and marugbo sanyan in Hausa. The aim of this study was to access the antibacterial activities of Murraya koenigii against Salmonella and Shigella species. Samples of commercial Murraya koenigii leaves were analysed and their phytochemical, phytocomponents and proximate components were assayed using standadrd methods. Also antibacterial activities of the olant extracts were investigated using well-in-agar diffusion methods. Data obtained for the different parameters were subjected to statistical analysis using the analysis of variance. The results of the phytochemical analysis revealed the presence flavonoid (8.81 ± 0.09 mg/100g), tannins (20.28 ± 0.53 mg/100g) and phenolic (44.83 ± 1.18 mg/100g) in aqueous extracts and flavonoid (67.1 ± 0.49 mg/100g), tannins (55.5 ± 1.98 mg/100g) and phenolic (68.0 ± 1.40 mg/100g) in ethanolic extract. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry confirmed the presence of Dodocanoic acid (0.40%), Tridecanoic acid (0.69%), Decanoic acid (0.29%), Tetramethyl-2- hexadecon-1-01 (1.65%), ctadecanoic acid (0.45%), Hexadecanoic acid (1.04%), Phthalic acid (1.14%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (29.6%), Hexadecanol (3.35%), acconic acid (6.23%), Octacosane (2.78%), Squalene (2.52%), Tetratetracontane (3.18%) and Cholesterol (1.57%). Zone of inhibition of the aqueous leave extract of Murraya koenigii on Salmonella sp and Shigella sp ranged from 0.10 ± 0.00 - 1.37 ± 0.03mm while zone of ethanolic extract ranged from 0.10 ± 0.00 - 1.67 ± 0.03mm respectively. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration ranged from 9.17 ± 2.20 - 45.0 ± 2.88 mg/ml for aqueous extract and 15.0 ± 7.64 - 90.0 ± 5.77 mg/ml for ethanolic extract. inimum actericidal Concentration (MBC) were negative in both aqueous and ethanolic extracts. The proximate analysis revealed the presence of Moisture (8.69 ± 0.52 %), Protein (19.73 ± 0.30%), Ash (1.95 ± 0.00 %), Fibre (4.31 ± 0.29 %), Lipid (6.53 ± 0.50 %) and carbohydrate (43.48 ± 1.72%). Shigella sp and Salmonella sp were resistant to septrin, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin and perfloxacin and susceptible to sparfloxacin, augmentin and gentamycin with Salmonella sp having the highest multiple antibiotic resistance index of 0.5. The isolates were found to harbor plasmids. Plasmid profile of the bacterial isolates after curing showed that Shigella sp was totally cured while presence of visible bands was observed for Salmonella sp. signifying inherent resistance to antibiotics. The antibacterial activities observed in Murraya koenigii leaves extract is due to the presence of phytochemicals. The use of Murraya koenigii in folk medicine is therefore recommended