Antimicrobial Properties of the Extract of Moringa Oleifera

Student: Nmesoma Joy Ezerioha (Project, 2025)
Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a very useful tree in tropical countries. Different parts of the tree has been used in different healing procedures for different diseases. The plant leaves are very good nutrient supplement for malnutrition and also used as an antibiotic. The aim of this study was to find out the antimicrobial properties of Moringa oleifera. To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilus, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumonia, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans were used as test organism. Agar well diffusion method was used to assess the antimicrobial effect of the extracts on microorganisms. Phytochemical analysis of the leaf was also carried out. The phytochemical screening indicated the presence of flavonoids, phenols, tannins, alkaloid, saponins and terpenoids. The methanolic extract inhibited the growth of the microorganisms. This justifies moringa as an antimicrobial agent. Therefore, Moringa oliefera could be a promising natural antimicrobial agent with potential applications in pharmaceutical industries for controlling the pathogenic microorganisms used in this work.

Keywords
antimicrobial properties extract moringa oleifera
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