Antibacterial Activity and Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of the Extracts of the Bark of Moringa oleifera

Abstract

Ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of the bark Moringa oleifera were screened against the enteric pathogens isolates namely, Esherichia coli, Shigella sonnei and Salmonella enteritis. All the extracts other than aqueous extract showed antimicrobial activity with the methanol extract having the percentage of activity. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of and tannins in the methanol extract.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, bark, antimicrobial activity, flavones, tannins