Abstract

Concern about the rising prevalence of antibiotics resistant strains pathogenic microorganisms has been expressed in the last three decades. However, intensive studies on extracts and biologically active compounds isolated from medicinal plants have equally doubled in the last decade. The ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous extracts of Sesame radiatum and its combination with Sesame indicum leaves were studied for their in-vitro antimicrobial activity against tested pathogenic micro-organisms. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry phytochemical screening showed the presence of essential oils mainly the phenolic and carboxylic acids groups. Ethanolic extracts of Sesame leaves have no inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus but strongly effective against Streptococcus pneumoniae and mildly effective against Candida albicans. However, the methanolic extract exhibited a mild antimicrobial activity against Staph. aureus and C. albicans, but no inhibitory effect on S. pneumoniae. C. albicans was mildly inhibited by the aqueous extract. However, there was a strong antimicrobial effect against S. pneumoniae and Staph. aureus in the combination of aqueous extracts of both species. The Sesame leaves extracts are equally effective against tested micro-organisms as the standard antibiotics.

Key words: Pathogenic micro-organisms, anti-microbial, sesame leaves.