Evaluation of Antibacterial and Phytochemical Analysis of Root Bark Extracts of Guiera senegalensis against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Aim: The study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening of Guiera senegalensis extracts against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Place and Duration of Study: A total of 70 samples of wound, High Vaginal Swab (HVS) and Skin were collected from Muhammad Abdullahi Wase specialist Hospital, Kano from September 2015 to December 2015.

Methodology: The aqueous and ethanol extracts from Guiera senegalensis root bark was tested using well diffusion method for their antibacterial activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from wound, skin and HVS samples of patients attending Muhammad Abdullah Wase specialist Hospital, Kano.

Results: The results showed that the ethanolic extracts of the root bark produces impressive antibacterial activity against some of the test organisms with zone of inhibition ranging between 24mm and 20mm, the aqueous root extracts had low inhibitory effect than the ethanolic extract with zone of inhibition of 21mm and 15mm. This is therefore indicates that the root bark extracts partitioned in solvent of different polarities were effective against some MRSA. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of phyto-compounds such as alkaloids and tannins which are known to inhibit bacterial growth by different mechanisms from those of synthetic drugs.

Conclusion: The phyto-constituents present may be responsible for the Guiera senegalensis antibacterial activity hence, Guiera senegalensis can be used as antibacterial agent against Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.