Phytochemical Analysis and Antibacterial Activity of Moringa oleifera

The aim of the present study was to find out antibacterial property of Moringa oleifera, family Moringaceae. Moringa oleifera is a very useful tree in tropical countries. In ayurvedic all parts of the tree used in different healing procedures for different diseases. The plant leaves are very good nutrient supplement for malnutrition and also used as an antibiotic. To evaluate the antibacterial activity of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus mutans, Bacillus subtilus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria were used. Phytochemical analysis of the leaf in solvents of varying polarity; viz., aqueous, ethanol were also carried out. The phytochemical screening indicated the presence of flavonoids, tannins, steroid, alkaloid, saponins etc., in the both extracts. Well diffusion method was used to assess the antibacterial effect of the extracts on micro-organisms. The ethanolic and aqueous extract were active against all strains but the ethanol leaf extract showed maximumactivity against Streptococcus mutantandaqueous extract shows maximum activity against Proteus vulgaris.