In vivo Screening of Antibacterial Activity of Acacia mellifera (BENTH) (Leguminosae) on Human Pathogenic Bacteria

Antibacterial evaluation of the methanolic extract and aqueous fractions of the whole plant of the Acacia melifera was carried out using the agarwell diffusion method. The extracts and their fractions were tested against two gram positive organisms Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 10341 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and two gram negative organismsKlebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 10273 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. The result of the plant extracts of Acacia mellifera showed that methanol extracts contain a greater proportion of terpenoids. Ethyl acetate extract of Acacia mellifera contain flavonoids which has antioxidant properties. Ethanol extracts were positive for saponin and alkaloids; class of compounds. Hexane and ethyl acetate extracts were positive for steroids. Methanol extracts showed antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 10341 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 10273 with zones of inhibition ranging from 10-20 mm. Ethyl acetate extracts was found to have antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, with zones of inhibitions ranging from 10-26 mm. The inhibitory activity of these extracts confirmed the potential use of the plant in the treatment of microbial induced ailments.