Evaluating the Antimicrobial Effects of Vernonia Amygdalina through Encapsulation with Starch Nanoparticles

INTRODUCTION Vernonia Amygdalina, which can be seen in the region of African and Asian continents, is a small shrub with an average height of 2m and is commonly called “Bitter Leaf”. V.amygdalina is very rich in minerals, especially phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc,iron and some vitamins like vitamin A, C and E [1]. It belongs to the family of Asteraceae and does not produce seeds but its cultivation is usually done by stem planting and mostly grows in tropical areas [2]. The phytochemical studies of the extract of the plant Vernonia amygdalina had resulted in the isolation of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, terpenes, steroidal glycosides, triterpenoids, and several types of sesquiterpene lactones [3-5] The aqueous and ethanol extracts of V.amygdalina leaves had shown antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa [2,6].