A STUDY OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL EFFICACY OF PHYLLANTHUS NIRURI STEM FOUND IN SOKOTO STATE OF NIGERIA.

*Aisha Umar. and **Hauwa’u Bello Abubakar

ABSTRACT

Phyllanthus niruri is traditionally believed to cure gastroenteritis infections, respiratory infections, sore throat and malaria in Sokoto state of Nigeria. This traditional practice, however, is not backed by any scientific findings. The present study investigates the antibacterial properties of the extracts of the stem bark of the plant on some common organisms that are widely known to cause these infections. The plant part was sequentially extracted with different organic solvents in increasing polarity. The antibacterial sensitivity test was carried out using the agar well diffusion method. The n-hexane extract did not show any activity on the organisms tested at all concentrations while the ethyl acetate showed activity only on P. aeruginosa. The methanol extract showed activities at all concentrations on all the tested organisms.The study justifies the wide use of the plant part as an herb in the study area.

Keywords:Antibacterial, Phyllanthus niruri,Escherichia coli, ethyl acetate, extraction