Antibacterial potential of vernonia amygdalina plant against staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli

Medicinal plants are plants in which one or more of its parts contain substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes or which are precursors for the synthesis of useful drugs. Chemical substances obtained from these plants have potential bacteriological activities, and the use of these plants for primary health is a common practice in Asia, Latin American and Africa. Vernonia amygdalina plant is a medicinal herb of the family Asteraceae. It is one of the plants commonly grown and harvested wildly across centuries in Africa. Phytochemical components observed to be present within this plant make it a valuable access because of various biological effects in humans. This research was carried out to assess the antibacterial potential from aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter leaf) against two most common bacteria strains namely, the gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and the gram-negative Escherichia coli, and to also investigate its aqueous extract via phytochemical Analysis against various reagents. Fresh samples of leaves of Vernonia amygdalina plant were harvested and allowed to sun dried for one week. The dried leaves were mashed and subsequently weighed. Twenty-five (25) grams of powder was soaked into 200 ml of distilled water, and the soaked powder was stored at 4 ̊ C for 24hrs and then filtered. The aqueous extracts obtained was stored in an airtight container at 4 ̊ C for about 7 days, and it used for the phytochemical Analysis and antibacterial Susceptibility testing V. amygdalina contains very active chemical agents that have potential antibacterial activities. The antibacterial potential of V. amygdalina extract makes it better suited as an alternative remedy for cheaper, affordable and a safe treatment of bacterial infection. The aqueous extracts obtained was stored in an airtight container at 4 ̊ C for about 7 days, and it used for the phytochemical Analysis and antibacterial Susceptibility testing.