In vitro Antimicrobial activity of water extract of Moringa oleifera leaf stalk on bacteria normally implicated in eye diseases

The in vitro antibacterial activity of the water extract of Moringa oleifera leaf stalk extract was conducted. Paper disc diffusion method was used to assess the effect of the extract on Pseudomonas aerogenosa, Staphylococcus albus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus pyogenus and Enterobacter aerogenes . At dilution of 1000mg/ml, 700mg/ml, 400mg/ml and 200mg/ml only mild activity against Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes was noticed. Pseudomonas aerogenosa, Staphylococcus albus, Staphylococcus aureus and , Staphylococcus pyogenus was resistant at these concentrations. The highest activity was produced by Escherichia coli at 1000mg/l which comparably is less than that of the standard drug tetracycline (250mg/ml). in conclusion, this study has shown that the water extract of Moringa oleifera posses some degree of antimicrobial activity especially at high dose. (Academia Arena, 2010;2(6):80-82) (ISSN 1553-992X).