Antimicrobial screening of Terminalia avicennoides and Acalypha wilkesiana

Abstract

The antimicrobial activities of extracts of Terminalia avicennoides (Mexican tea) and Acalypha wilkesiana (copper leaf) were screened against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Salmonella typhi, Staphyloccus aureus and Candida albicans. The extracts showed a better activity against all organisms but T. avicennoides showed high activity against C. albicans. The antimicrobial activities for both plant extracts were more pronounced at a high concentration than at low concentration of the extracts. The extracts of the two plants can be used in the treatment of diseases where the test organisms are implicated.

Keywords: Antimicrobial activities, Terminalia avicennoides, Acalypha wilkesiana