IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF EUPHORBIA HETEROPHYLLA AND ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ON SELECTED CLINICAL ISOLATES

Abstract

Euphorbia heterophylla and Zingiber officinale have been used to treat many microbial infections. The study assessed the in vitro antimicrobial potency of E. heterophylla and Z. officinale against clinical microbial isolates. The antimicrobial activities of aqueous and methanol extracts of E. heterophylla and Z. officinale were assessed against three clinical isolates: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. This was done by measuring their zones of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and minimum bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations (MBCs and MFCs). The zones of inhibition against all the test microorganisms by almost all the extracts at a concentration of 10 mg/ml ranged from 12 to 29 mm. The highest zone of inhibition for S. aureus was obtained with the hot methanol Z. officinale extract, while that for P. aeruginosa was from the cold aqueous Z. officinale extract. C. albicans was most inhibited by hot aqueous Z. officinale extract. The cold and hot methanol extracts of Z. officinaledid not affect C. albicans. The MIC ranged from 6.5 to 50 mg/ml. The MBC and MFC ranged from 25 to 100 mg/ml. These medicinal plants exhibited positive antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates, indicating their potential for use in antimicrobial drug development.