Antimicrobial Potency of Neem (azadirachta Indica) Leaf Extracts on Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Wound Infections

The use of herbal decoctions in treating wound infections is increasing especially in developing countries including Nigeria. The increasing incidence of wound infections, coupled with the scarce foreign exchange to import potent antibiotics into the country and the inherent capacity of the wound pathogens to resist the therapeutic effects of such antibiotics have necessitated the use of alternative but effective medical remedies for wound treatment. The objective of this study is to determine the antibacterial activity of Azadirachta indica on common wound pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Agar diffusion assay was employed to determine the antibacterial activity of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the neem plant at six concentration levels by measuring the diameter of zones of inhibition around the tested organisms. The data obtained was statistically analyzed using student t-test of unpaired comparison. Streak plate technique was used to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the tested extracts. Both the ethanolic and aqueous extracts exhibited considerable antibacterial activity against the selected wound pathogens Using agar disc diffusion assay and at varying concentrations, the two extracts showed antibacterial activity against all test bacteria used. When compared, ethanolic extract showed greater zones of inhibition than the aqueous extract. The results showed that sensitivity is directly proportional to the concentrations of the neem extract. It is therefore important that because of the low cost of production of both types of extracts, it should be encouraged as an option in African countries especially Nigeria. This beneficial use of the plant forms a basis for further research and evaluation.