Aim: The adoption of traditional medicine is gaining serious attention. This study was carried out to determine the anti-bacterial activity of Corchorus olitorius (jute leaf) ethanolic leaf extract against some multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria.
Methods: Fresh leaves of C. olitorius collected from Samaru market, Zaria, Nigeria, were extracted using ethanol. The extract was screened for antibacterial activity against some MDR-bacteria (Escherichia coli, Proteus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus) using the agar well diffusion method at different concentrations. Broth dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC).
Results: Results showed that the proximate compositions of the C. olitorius leaves were carbohydrate (5.4%), crude fiber (7.8%), crude protein (6.2%), ash content (7.2%), crude fat (2%) and moisture content (58.4%). The anti-nutrients identified were tannins and phytate. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, quinones, steroids and terpenoids. There was higher antibacterial efficacy against Salmonella typhi at 200 mg/mL (20 mm), and 100 mg/mL (18 mm). The MIC and MBC against Salmonella typhi was at 200 mg/mL.
Conclusion: This study has further demonstrated that C. olitorius leaves are a rich source of nutrients and phytochemicals, and possess antibacterial activity. The plant therefore has a potential for use as antimicrobials but there is need for purification of its active components and their investigation using a wider range of organisms.
Key words: ethanolic extract, Corchorus olitorius, leaves, phytochemical, nutrients, antibacterial
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