DETERMINATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF M. INDICA (MANGO) LEAF AND STEM ON SELECTED HUMAN PATHOGENS

DETERMINATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF M. INDICA (MANGO) LEAF AND STEM ON SELECTED HUMAN PATHOGENS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACK GROUND OF THE STUDY

Natural plants as herbal remedies are being employed to prevent and cure several illnesses in different communities (Abdul Wadood,et al., 2003). These herbal plants are largely raw source for the production of modern antibiotics. For many years, medicine had been explored exclusively from leaf, flowers and barks of plants; only recently the synthetic drugs used to treat different infections have same chemical constituents as identified in plants. According to WHO, a medicinal plant could be any plant that contains substances which can be obtained from its different parts and can be applied for beneficial purposes or can be predecessor for the production of useful drugs (Aiyelaagbeet al., 2009).

Magnifera indica L, commonly called as mango, is a plant belonging to the family Anacardiaeceae which consists of about sixty genera and six hundred species. It is one of the most popular tropical fruit bearing trees in the world. M. indica is commonly used herb in ayurvedic and various traditional systems of medicine. Conventionally, the mango plant has several biological properties as like to treat mouth infections in children, diarrhea, dysentery, gastrointestinal tract disorders, typhoid fever, sore throat and scurvy ((Shabaniet al., 2014)).  Mango is a rich source of vitamin A and could be eaten in combinations with salt and honey for the treatment of blood disorders (Doughari and Manzara, 2008). Stem bark of mango has been found to possess anti-helminthic and anti allergic properties. Different parts of mango have been investigated for their antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities (Akereleet al., 2008). Mango kernel extract is being used in food products or cosmetics due to its bacteriostatic and antibacterial properties. The leaf of M. indica have been analyzed chemically and reported to contain glucoside and mangiferin which is a potent antimicrobial agent. Mangiferin has been demonstrated to possess antiviral activity against herpes simplex type 2 viruses, hypoglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antiatherogenic activities (McGawet al., 2000).

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

The emergence and re-emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of microorganisms to the conventionally used antibiotics used today have necessitated studies into medicinal plants that are thought to be alternatives to the antibiotics which so many microorganisms have become resistant to. M. indica leaf and stem extract have to be given much attention because it could serves as an alternative to common antimicrobial agents used in hospitals and health centers to treat microbial infections, this have necessitated studies into the antimicrobial potential of the leaf and stem of M.indica with the view of coming up with substances in the plant that could serves as substitute to the present day antibiotic which microorganisms have becomes resistant to and to overcome the problem of side effects.

1.3     JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

Medicinal plants have become the best alternative to treat microbial infections especially for those living in rural communities and remote settlements where access to adequate health care facilities and out patient clinics is absent. For this people, a medicinal plant such as M. indica provides the only alternative to treat diseases. It therefore become imperative to investigate the antimicrobial potentials of medicinal plants such as M. indica in order to check the antimicrobial activity profile of such plants which are used locally to treat diseases.

1.4     AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the research work is to investigate the antimicrobial activities of aqueous extract ofM. indica (mango) leaf and stem on selected human pathogens.

1.5     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

• To determine the efficacy of aqueous extract of M. indica leaf and stem on selected human pathogens.
• To determine the effect of different concentration of M. indica aqueous extract on human pathogens (S. aureus, P. aeroginosa, and Candida albicans)

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The research of Mangifera indica is made to elaborate the antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic strain. Mango tree has a high percentage of healing and medicinal properties; it contains lots of vitamins which are essential to human health. According to Ahmed, (2005) M. indica are highly use for the treatment of various human pathogenic diseases. It can also be seen as a natural substance that prevent and fight against any foreign agent entering the body such as malaria plasmodium and salmonella species.

1.7     SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The work is limited to the antimicrobial activity of aqueous extract of Mangifera indica (mango) leaf and stem on selected humans (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Candida albicans).

1.8     HYPOTHESIS

• M.indica leaf and stem have great potentials in treating microbial infections
• There is or no significant difference between the activity of the leaf and stem on the tested microbial strains.