The methanolic stem bark extract of
Ficus Thonningii
(Moraceae) was subjected to preliminary
phytochemical screening and
in vitro antimicrobial tests. The phytochemical tests was carried out using standard
methods of analysis and these investigations revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates,
flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The antimicrobial activity of the plant extract was assayed using the agar plate disc
diffusion and nutrient broth dilution techniques. Test micro organisms were:
Escherichia coli
,
Klebsiella
spp,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
,
Salmonella typhi
(Gram-negative),
Staphylococcus aureus
and
Streptococcus
spp. (Grampositive).
The extracts inhibited the growth of all the test organisms at different concentrations especially against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
Streptococcus spp. which had mean inhibition zone of 33.33±7.33 mm and 32.33±2.51
mm respectively. The results showed the MIC of 10 mg ml
-1 against
pseudomonas and 1.25 against remaining
organisms tested. The MBC against
Staphylococcus aureus
was 2.5 mg ml
-1 and that of
Streptococcus spp. was
found to be 0.625mg ml
-1. The extracts showed varied inhibitory activity against the organisms studied.
