Ability of Azadirachta indica and Ocimum gratissimum to inhibit the growth of some hospital isolates

The study on the ability of Azadirachta indica and Ocimum gratissimum to inhibit the growth of some hospital isolates was carried out following several reports on the antimicrobial potentials of these plant leaves among locals. Some fresh leaves of Azadirachta indica and Ocimum gratissimum were processed into an aqueous extract as well as an ethanolic extract and preserved at 4oC. samples of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans which served as test microorganisms were obtained from the Federal Medial Centre Umuahia Abia State Nigeria. Antimicrobial sensitivity test of test isolates was determined using the Kirby-bauer disc diffusion method Disc diffusion method of the extracts . A 0.5 Mc farland solution of the 4 organisms were prepared and inoculated into an already prepared Mueller hinton agar plates containing the paper disc of 400mg/ml aqueous and ethanolic extracts. A control experiment was set up with 2mg/ml gentamycin disc. After 48 hours incubation, Ethanolic extract of Azadirachta indica showed the highest zones of inhibition of 7.5mm on Staphylococcus aureus, followed by ethanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum 7.0mm on Escherichia coli. While the aqueous extracts of both Azadirachta indica and Ocimum gratissimum showed least zones of inhibition on Candida albicans. The overall were more antibacterial effective than antifungal. Therefore, the Ethanolic extract of Azadirachta indica and Ocimum gratissimum possess more antibacterial effect and less antifungal effect.