Antimicrobial Activity of Bauhinia variegata Leaves (Ethanolic) Extract

Purpose: The antimicrobial activity of the 50 % methanolic extract of the leaves of Bauhinia variegata. (Leguminosae) was investigated in other to verify its claimed ethno medicinal use in the treatment of microbial infections.

Method: The antimicrobial activity of the extract was tested against standard strains and clinical isolates of some aerobic bacteria using the Agar well diffusion method. Commercial antibiotics were used as positive reference standards to determine the sensitivity of the strains.

Results: The extracts showed significant inhibitory activity against standard strains and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, clinical isolates of Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus epidemidis. The MIC values obtained using the Agar-dilution test ranged from 5.0 mg/ml. - 10.0 mg/ml. Neither the concentrated extract nor its dilutions inhibited Esherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Shigella floxineri

Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the crude extract of the leaves of Bauhinia Variegata has a narrow spectrum of activity and suggest that it may be useful in the treatment of infections caused by Gram positive aerobic bacteria.