ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED OIL, LEAF AND STEM EXTRACTS ON SOME PATHOGENS

This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity and phytochemical properties of Moringa oleifera seed extract, seed and leaf on some pathogens. Seeds, leaves and stem bark of Moringa oleifera were collected from a Moringa tree located at the back of Umuome, Umuguma, Owerri, Imo State. The plant parts were dried, ground and extracted. The presence of anthranoids, saponins, phenols, alkaloids and tannins were detected with leaf extract, anthraquinones, phenols, alkaloids, tannins and cardiac glycosides were detected with stem extract while saponins, anthranoids. anthraquinones, phenols, alkaloids, tannins and cardiac glycosides were detected with seed extract. Zones of inhibition recorded ranged from 16mm to 24mm with seed extract, 24mm with 26mm with leaf extract and 14mm to 20 with stem extract. Escherichia species was the most susceptible organism while leaf extract showed better antimicrobial activity. Minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 62.5mg/ml to 250mg/ml with seed extract, 62.5mg/ml to 125mg/ml with leaf extract and 125mg/ml to 250mg/ml with stem extract. Minimum bactericidal concentration recorded ranged 250mg/ml to 500mg/ml with seed and leaf extracts and 500mg/ml with stem extract. This study has shown that Moringa oleifera plant extracts harbour important phytochemicals such as alkaloids, phenols, tannins and others. The antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts revealed broad antimicrobial activity against the test organisms. This shows that the seed of Moringa oleifera could be used locally against pathogens that cause infections and in pharmaceutical industries for drug production or food supplement.