Antimicrobial screening of Vernonia amygdalina and Calotropis procera Methanol Leaf Extracts
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Date
2016
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Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Development and Practice (Published by Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin)
Abstract
Herbal therapies and medicinal plants are fast growing in relevance in most societies around the world today due to their availability, relative safety and efficacy against numerous disease conditions. Vernonia amygdalina and Calotropis procera were investigated for their antimicrobial activities singly and in combination to determine their actions against skin infections. A sensitivity test was conducted for the extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Trichophyton rubrum. The extracts were tested individually and in combination at 0: 100, 25: 75, 50: 50, 75: 25 and 100: 0 Vernonia: Calotropis (V: C) ratios against the five organisms. Antimicrobial activities were determined via the agar diffusion method. Griseofulvin was used as the positive control against the fungal organisms while Augmentin/Clavulanate was used as control for the bacterial organisms. Results of sensitivity test showed that all the organisms were sensitive to each of the extracts at a concentration of 200 mg/mL. The extracts gave zones of inhibition ranging from 5.00 ± 1.24 to 30.00 ± 0.00 mm across the test organisms with the 75: 25 V: C combination yielding the highest zones across all the organisms and the Vernonia amygdalina only extract ranking second. This implies that the extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Calotropis procera used in combination results in a broad spectrum and increased intensity of activity as compared to when the extracts are used individually in what can be described as a ‘synergistic herb-herb’ interaction. This combination holds a great promise in the treatment of skin infections and exhibit potentials for topical pharmaceutical dosage formulations.
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Keywords
Vernonia amygdalina, Calotropis procera,, bacterial, fungal, skin infection