Antimicrobial Potential of Moringa peregrina Against Some Causative Agents of Urogenital Infections

Abstract

Abstract Aim: To evaluate and compare the antimicrobial effectiveness of aqueous and methanol extracts from Moringa peregrina leaves against standard strains of microorganisms and clinical isolates. Study Design: An  experimental  study  which  was  carried  out  at  the  microbiology  laboratory, Medicinal  and  Aromatic  Plants  Research  Institute  (MAPRI),  Khartoum,  Sudan,  during  the  period from September 2012 to March 2013. Methodology: Aqueous and methanol extracts of Moringa peregrina at  concentration  of 100 mg/ml  were  subjected  to  antimicrobial  screening  against  six  standard  strains  include Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922),  Pseudomonas  aeruginosa (ATCC  27853),  Klebsiella  pneumoniae (ATCC 53657),  Proteus  vulgaris (ATCC  6380), Staphylococcus  aureus (ATCC  25923), Candida albicans (ATCC 7596) and  133  clinical  isolates  including  bacterial  and  fungal  species.  Screening  for  antimicrobial  activity  of  extracts, standard  antibiotics  and  antifungal  drug  were  detected  by  the  agar  well  diffusion  method.  The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) for the tested extracts were determined by using the broth dilution method. The MDIZs of clinical isolates were analyzed statistically using One-Way analysis of variance.  Results: Methanol extract of Moringa peregrina leaves revealed prominent activity against standard strains compared to the aqueous extract of the same plant where the diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ) was ranged from 18 mm to 21 mm. The aqueous extract exhibited moderate activity which was ranged from 16 mm to 17 mm. The MIC of leaves methanol extract of Moringa peregrina for standard bacterial strains was ranged from ˂6.25 to 12.50 mg/ml, while the MBC was ranged from 6.25 mg/ml to 50 mg/ml. Standard strain and clinical isolates of Candida albicans was inhibited by 25 mg/ml from methanol extract, while the MFC was 50 mg/ml. The  highest MDIZs  obtained  by  the leaves  methanol extract of Moringa peregrina on  the  clinical  isolates  was  18.93±3.07 mm  for  Escherichia  coli,  18.50±2.07 mm for Pseudomonas  aeruginosa, 18.62±2.72 mm for Proteus mirabilis and 18.11±2.47 mm for Staphylococcus  saprophyticus. The antifungal activity of leaves methanol extract of Moringa peregrina on clinical isolates of Candida albicans was 16.56±1.62 mm which was lower than activity of Candizole 5 mg/ml. Moringa peregrina leaves extract showed varied MICs values towards clinical isolates which was ranged from 6.25 mg/ml to 25 mg/ml, while the MBC of the same isolates was from 25 mg/ml to 50 mg/ml. Finally, Methanol extract of Moringa peregrina was found to be effective against both the standard strains and clinical isolates compared to the aqueous extract.