ABSTRACT

This study determined the inhibitory effect of crude extracts of Xanthosoma sagittifolium leaves on Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella species isolated from Ugba. Fresh leaves of Xanthosoma sattifolium were washed in distilled water and air dried for 2 weeks. The dried leaves were then grinded thoroughly, using a manual grinder 27g of powdered leaves was placed in three conical flasks each and extracted using 250ml of ethanol, 250ml of cold-water and 250ml of hot water respectively for the two flasks. The test organisms used were Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella species isolated from Ugba. They were resuscitated by subculture and identified using colonial characteristics, Gram staining and biochemical tests. The effects (by zone of inhibition of millimeter) of 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25% corcentrations of ethanol extract of Xanthosoma sagittifolium leaves on Staphylococcus aureus were 9.1, 7.3, 6.3, 6.4 and 4.3 mm respectively. The effects (by zone of inhibition of millimeter) of 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25% concentrations of ethanol extract of Xanthosoma sagittifolium leaves on Klebsiella species were 8.1, 6.5, 6.4, 5.2 and 2.1 mm respectively. The effects (by zone of inhibition of millimeter) of 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25% concentrations of Hot water extract of Xanthosoma sagittifolium leaves on Staphylococcus aureus were 3.0, 3.2, 3.2, 0.1 and 0.0 mm respectively. The effects (by zone of inhibition of millimeter) of 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25% concentrations of hot water extract ofXanthosoma sagittifolium leaves on Klebsiella species were 3.2, 3.5, 1.9, 1.4 and 0.0mm respectively. The effects (by zone of inhibition of millimeter) of 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25% concentrations of cold-water extract of Xanthosoma sagittifolium leaves on Staphylococcus aureus were 2.0, 0.3, 0.0, 0.0 and 0.0mm respectively. The effects (by zone of inhibition of millimeter) of 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25% concentrations of cold-water extract ofXanthosoma sagittifolium leaves on Klebsiella species were 1.6, 1.0, 0.0, 0,0 and 0.0 mm respectively. The MICs of ethanol extract ofXanthosoma sagittifolium, hot water and cool water extract ofXanthosoma sagittifolium on Staphylococcus aureus were 6.25%, 12.5% and 50% respectively while the MICs of ethanol extract of Xanthosoma sagittifolium, hot water and cool water extract of Xanthosoma sagittifolium on Klebsiella species were 6.25%, 12.5% and 50% respectively. This demonstrated that ethanol extracts contributed much more-antibacterial activity than aqueous extract.