- Acacia caesia, Alcoholic extracts, human pathogens, Disc diffusion method
Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of alcoholic root extracts of Acacia caesia. The plant extracts showed strong antibacterial and antifungal activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms. The results of the study revealed that the used three alcoholic extracts showed varied degree of antimicrobial activity against the tested human pathogens. However the methanolic root extract exhibited higher inhibition zone (20.33 mm) against the bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, whereas the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed high degree of inhibition zone against the fungi, Mucor rouxii and Rhizopus sp. (28.53 and 20.63 mm respectively). Hence, the methanolic root extract was found to be most effective against tested pathogens. These plant extracts which proved to be potentially effective can be used as natural alternative to the various health problems.