ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT OF BORRERIA VERTICILLATA ROOT EXTRACT ON CLINICAL STRAINS OF SALMONELLA TYPHI, PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA, CADIDA ALBICAUS, STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS, BACILLUS SUBTILIS AND ESCHERICHIA COLI

The antimicrobial activity of root extracts of Borreria verticillata was evaluated against clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli using the disc diffusion method.At 30 µg/disc, the organic root extract produced a 10 mm zone of inhibition against Candida albicans but showed no detectable inhibition against the other test organisms.The aqueous extract produced zones of 15 mm and 13 mm against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, while no inhibition was observed against Bacillus subtilis, E. coli, Salmonella typhi or P. aeruginosa.The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for Candida albicans and S. aureus were 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL, respectively, while the corresponding minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were 3.0 and 5.0 mg/mL.Phytochemical screening indicated a high presence of tannins and saponins, with moderate levels of alkaloids, resins and phlobatannins.The findings demonstrate selective, rather than broad-spectrum, antimicrobial activity of B. verticillata root extracts.They also support continued investigation of the plant as a potential source of bioactive compounds, particularly against Candida albicans and S. aureus, while emphasizing the need for further isolation, toxicity, standardization and in vivo studies before therapeutic application.