Assessment of the antimicrobial activity of wonderful kola (Buchholzia coriacea) on Salmonella species isolated from seafoods

The increasing failure of chemotherapeutic agents and the growing incidence of antibiotic resistance amongpathogens have prompted the screening of medicinal plants for their antimicrobial potential. This studyaimed to determine the efficacy of ethanol and aqueous seed extracts of Buchholzia coriacea (wonderfulkola) against Salmonella species isolated from seafood (clam and prawn) using the agar well diffusionmethod. Wonderful kola seeds were purchased from Mile 3 Market, and pure cultures of Salmonella spp.were isolated from clam and prawn samples using standard microbiological techniques at the MicrobiologyLaboratory, Rivers State University. The results showed that ethanol yielded a higher quantity of extract(14.37 g) compared to the aqueous solvent (3.88 g). The percentage yields were 28.74% and 7.76% for theethanol and aqueous extracts, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of both aqueousand ethanol extracts for the two isolates (ISO 1 and ISO 2) was 50%. The minimum bactericidalconcentration (MBC) of the aqueous extract for both isolates was also 50%, whereas for the ethanol extract,the MBC was 25% for ISO 1 and 50% for ISO 2. Measurable zones of inhibition were observed for bothextracts. The aqueous extract produced inhibition zones ranging from 11–15 mm for ISO 1 and 11–17 mmfor ISO 2, while the ethanol extract produced zones ranging from 13–17 mm for ISO 1 and 11–14 mm forISO 2. Although the extracts demonstrated antimicrobial activity against the isolates, the consumption ortherapeutic use of plant extracts should be supported by comprehensive research evidence andprofessional medical advice.