Evaluation of Bioactive Compounds and Antibacterial Potentials of Moringa oleifera and Aloe vera Leaves against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae

The medicinal properties shown by different medicinal plants are a result of the present phytochemicals in the plants. These phytochemicals are important sources for the treatment of diseases. Different phytochemicals have an extensive range of activities, which help to boost the immune system and give resistance against disease to protect the body from harmful pathogens. The study aimed to determine the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activity of Moringa oleifera leaf and Aloe vera extracts against two (2) bacteria associated with gastroenteritis, namely, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The bacterial isolates were obtained from the Microbiology Laboratory of Gombe State University, Gombe. Phytochemical screening of the leaf extract was conducted to ascertain the presence and amount of bioactive components present in both plant extracts using two solvents (Ethanol and Distilled Water). The antimicrobial assay of the leaf extracts was performed using the disc diffusion method. The qualitative phytochemicals screening of the extract indicated the presence of Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, saponins, and tannins, while steroids were absent in both plant samples. The result shows that the extracts were active against the microorganisms. The ethanol extract showed the highest activity against the bacterial isolates compared to the aqueous extracts. It is concluded that ethanol extract has a higher effect and possesses more antibacterial activities compared to the aqueous extracts, which is attributable to the fact that ethanol extracts more of the bioactive components of the plant compared to the aqueous.