Antimicrobial studies on the stem-bark extracts of Ficus kamerunensis Warb.

Abstract

Ficus kamerunensis is an epiphytic shrub or tree growing up to 20 m high. The plant is used in ethnomedicine to treat microbial infections of different kinds. Antimicrobial activity of methanol extract of the stem-bark of Ficus kamerunensis and fractions of the same (ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, n-butanol, aqueous) was studied. Agar diffusion method was used to screen the extracts while minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the extracts were determined at 0.5 scale Mc-farland’s turbidity standard and with standard ciprofloxacin as positive control. The diameter of zone of inhibition of the extracts against test microorganisms (in mm) was highest for the ethyl acetate, followed by diethyl ether then n-butanol extracts while the least was with the methanol extract. The zones of inhibition of the extracts were in the range of 18-31 mm. The MIC and MBC for the extracts were 6.25 mg/ml and 12.5 mg/ml respectively. Antimicrobial evaluation shows that the extracts have activity against E. coli, Candida albicans, Candida stellatodea, Corynebacterium ulcerans, MRSA, Neisseria gonorrheae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Staphylococcus aureus while Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, Proteus mirabilis and Streptococcus pyrogens were resistant. This therefore, supports the ethnomedical usage of the plant for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Keywords: Ficus kamerunensis, Antimicrobial, MIC and MBC/ MFC