African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5233

Full Length Research Paper

Screening of biologically active constituents from leaves of Aloe elegans and their antimicrobial activities against clinical pathogens

Mehari Habtemariam*
  • Mehari Habtemariam*
  • Department of Biology, College of Science, Eritrean Institute Technology, Asmara, Eritrea.
  • Google Scholar
Gebrehiwet Medhanie
  • Gebrehiwet Medhanie
  • Department of Biology, College of Science, Eritrean Institute Technology, Asmara, Eritrea.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 28 December 2016
  •  Accepted: 10 February 2017
  •  Published: 28 February 2017

Abstract

The flourishing to the war b/n pathogens and antibiotics is contingent on the diligent trial to find effective antibiotics; so that to lessen the fear faced by resistant microbes. The screening carried out manifested the presence of saponins, glycosides, tannins, reduced sugars, terpenoids, flavonoids and phenols. Alkaloids and steroids were not traced from any of the extracts.  Aqueous and solvent extracts from leaves of Aloe elegans were inspected for antimicrobial activity against pathogens namely Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella thypherium, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans by well and disc diffusion method. Disk diffusion method showed a better result than well diffusion method. The highest poisoning against all the microbes was seen by ethanol extract. The extract showed unsurpassed antifungal activity than antibacterial activity. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay was ascertained for this extract against bacteria and fungi. Ethanol extract bespoke maximum toxicity against S. aureus at 0.78 mg/ml concentration succeeded by E. coli at 1.56 mg/ml concentration. The upshots provide justification for the possibility to utilize  plant extracts to treat sundry infectious diseases.

Key words: Aloe elegans, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), antimicrobial, phytochemicals.