ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF CHROMOLAENA ODORATA (AKINTOLA)

This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Chromolaena odorata against selected bacterial pathogens, namely Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. The agar well diffusion method was employed, with Ampicloxalin used as the standard control. Results revealed that both extracts exhibited significant antibacterial activity, though with variations across bacterial species and concentrations. The aqueous extract produced moderate inhibition ranging from 19.00 mm to 29.00 mm, showing a clear dose-dependent effect against S. pyogenes (19.00 mm at 100 mg/ml to 26.00 mm at 300 mg/ml). In contrast, the ethanolic extract was more potent, with inhibition zones reaching 37.00 mm against K. pneumoniae and 33.50 mm against S. aureus. The control drug displayed the highest activity, particularly against S. aureus (57.00 mm). The study concluded that ethanol is a more effective solvent for extracting antibacterial compounds from C. odorata. The strong inhibitory effects, especially against S. aureus and K. pneumoniae, provide scientific validation for the traditional use of C. odorata in managing microbial infections. The study further recommends its potential applications in the formulation of herbal creams, food preservatives, nutraceuticals, and as a complementary therapy in rural healthcare settings.