[01] A. Abdulhamid, Department of Biochemistry, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Nigeria. [02] I. M. Fakai, Department of Biochemistry, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Nigeria. [03] I. Sani, Department of Biochemistry, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Nigeria. [04] F. Bello, Department of Biochemistry, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Nigeria.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Citrus aurantium, Sclerocarya birrea and Tamarindus indica against the selected pathogenic bacteria. The ethanolic and aqueous leaves extracts of Citrus aurantium, Sclerocarya birrea and Tamarindus indica were screened for the presence of some phytochemicals and antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella dysenteriae, Salmonella paratyphi, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis. The phytochemicals were analyzed using the standard methods of phytochemical analysis, while the antibacterial activities were analysed using agar well diffusion method. The results indicated presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides in the two extracts. The results revealed that the two extracts possess broader antibacterial activities against the tested organisms at a concentration of 100 mg/ml when compared with the standard antibiotic ciprofloxacin as positive control. However, ethanolic extract demonstrated a better activity than the aqueous extract with the most susceptible organism being Bacillus subtilis, while the minimum antibacterial activity was reported for Staphylococcus aureus. The ethanol leaves extracts of the three plantsmay therefore provide a good target for drug discovery.

Citrus Aurantium, Phytochemicals, Sclerocarya birrea, Tamarindus indica, Antibacterial Activity and Tannins

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