Abstract

Nwachukwu M. I., Uzoechi A. U.*, Obasi C. C., Njoku- obi T. N., Nwachukwu I. O., Nwabueze O. O.,
Ezenwa C. M.

ABSTRACT

Study to determine the antibacterial effect of ethanol extract of leaf, seed and seed coat of Moringa oleifera on bacterial agents of infantile diarrhea was carried out. This was determined using disc diffusion and well-in-Agar antimicrobial screening methods. A total of sixty nine suspected infants (0-5years) were screened using standard microbiological methods. Bacterial agents isolated and identified were E-coli and Salmonela sp. While E.coli was isolated from 17(60.71%) subjects, salmonella sp was isolated from 11(39.2%) subjects. Results showed that more infants of three years old had diarrhea while those at the age of five years were the least. Male infants were affected more than the female infants. Well in agar antimicrobial screening methods showed appreciable inhibitory effect on both E. coli and Salmonella sp than disc diffusion method. Furthermore, ethanolic extract from the leaf exhibited more antimicrobial action on the two test isolates followed by extract from the seed, then extract from the root. While extract from the seed coat only showed that alkaloids and terpenoids were absent in the leaf and root saponin was absent in the seed, tannin was only present in the leaf. Above results indicate that extract from most parts of Moringa oleifera have curative hence can be used for the cure of diseases such as diarrhea.