Antimicrobial activity screening of crude extract from leaves of Cassia nigricans Vahl

Abstract

 The antimicrobial activity of the methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts of the
 leaves of Cassia nigricans Vahl was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus
 pyogenes, Corynebacterium pyogenes, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeroginosa,
 using agar diffusion  technique. Results showed that the extract were effective against all the test
 microorganisms. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the extracts of methanol, ethyl acetate and
 chloroform were found to be 2 x 104 g/ml, while the petroleum ether showed no inhibition. The results
 of the study provide scientific basis for the use of the plant extract in the treatment of wounds and skin
 diseases. It is concluded that the active principles possessing antimicrobial activity may be extracted from
 the leaves of Cassia nigricans Vahl by methanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform.