Antibacterial Activities of T. Vulgaris (thyme) and Seed of M. Fragrans (nutmeg) on Some Gram-Positive Bacteria

ibacterial activities of Thymus vulgaris and seed of Myristica fragrans on some gram-positive bacteria was studied. Different concentration (90%, 70% and 50%) of the plant extract of Thymus vulgaris and seed of Myristica fragrans were prepared. The total bacterial count from the three (3) distinctive sources shows the highest bacterial count from soil sample to be 2.82x105 cfu/cm2, followed by skin swab with 231 cfu/cm2 and the least was nasal swab with 198 cfu/m2. Microbes associated with the cultural, microscopic and biochemical characterization of the bacterial isolates reveals that four (4) bacteria isolates were all gram-positive; Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., Bacillus sp. and Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. The percentage occurrence of highest prevalence was from Staphylococcus sp. with 43%, followed by Bacillus sp. with 26.6%, Streptococcus sp. had 15.6% and the least was coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp. with 14.8% respectively. The effect of extract of Myristica fragrans seeds on some gram-positive bacteria shows that Bacillus sp. at 70% concentration had zone of inhibition of 11mm and negligible at 90% and 50% for ethanol extract, also negligible at 90%, 70% and 50% for the aqueous extract. Staphylococcus sp. at 70% concentration had zone of inhibition of 11mm and negligible at 90% and 50% for the ethanol extract, while aqueous extract at 90%, 70% and 50% had the zone of inhibition of 11mm, 13mm and 9mm. Streptococcus sp. at 90% and 70% concentration had zone of inhibition of 11mm and 12mm and negligible at 50% for ethanol, while aqueous extract at 90%, 70% and 50% concentration had 12mm, 13mm and 12mm. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp. at 90%, 70% and 50% had zone of inhibition of 10mm, 10mm and 19mm for ethanol extract, while the aqueous extract at 90%, 70% and 50% had 11mm, 20mm and 11mm. The effect of extract of Thymus vulgaris on some gram-positive bacteria shows that Bacillus sp. at 90%, 70% and 50% had zone of inhibition of 16mm, 15mm and 13mm for ethanol extract, while aqueous extract at 90% and 70% had 12mm and 11mm, and negligible at 50%. Staphylococcus sp. at 90%, 70% and 50% had zone of inhibition of 13mm, 15mm and 12mm for ethanol extract, while aqueous extract at 90%, 70% and 50% had zone of inhibition of 16mm, 14mm and 13mm. Streptococcus sp. at 90%, 70% and 50% concentration had zone of inhibition of 11mm, 11mm and 10mm for ethanol extract while aqueous at 90%, 70% and 50% had zone of inhibition of 12mm, 13mm and 12mm. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp. at 90%, 70% and 50% concentration had zone of inhibition of 12mm, 13mm and 16mm for ethanol extract, while the aqueous extract at 90% and 70% concentration had zone of inhibition of 15mm and 16mm and negligible at 50%. The test plant extracts Thymus vulgaris and Mystica fragrans seeds showed impressive inhibitory effect against pathogens of human and environmental flora. These clearly reveals that these plants extracts are becoming more reliable botanical tool and could be used to effectively prevent human infections.