ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF LEAVES AND STEM OF Bryohyllum Pinnatum (MIRACLE LEAF) IN SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves and stems against selected bacterial isolates from Sokoto State, Nigeria. Aqueous and ethanol solvents were used to extract bioactive compounds, and the extracts were tested at concentrations of 200, 140, and 60 mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Micrococcus spp. The results revealed no inhibitory effects from the Bryophyllum pinnatum extracts on the tested bacterial strains, irrespective of solvent type or concentration. In contrast, the standard antibiotic Tetracycline exhibited significant antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 20 mm, 16 mm, and 9 mm for Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. These findings suggest that Bryophyllum pinnatum extracts, under the tested conditions, lack antibacterial activity against the evaluated bacterial isolates. However, this does not exclude the plants potential for other therapeutic applications. Future studies should investigate alternative extraction methods, diverse solvent systems, and a broader range of bacterial strains to comprehensively evaluate the bioactivity of Bryophyllum pinnatum.