In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of Chrysophyllum albidum and Diospyros monbuttensis leaves

Despite progress in the development of antibacterial agents, there are still special needs to find new antibacterial agents due to the development of multidrug resistance by bacteria and fungi. This study was conducted to investigate and compare the in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of the methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Chrysophyllum albidum and Diospyros monbuttensis. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts of D. monbuttensis and C. albidum leaves were prepared using cold extraction method. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing was carried out using agar-well diffusion method against the following test organisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sp., Escherichia coli (Enteropathogenic), Klebsiella sp., Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts of D. monbuttensis and C. albidum leaves was determined using broth dilution method. S. aureus, Streptococcus sp., E. coli and Klebsiella sp. were sensitive to ethanolic leaf extract of C. albidum at 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml respectively. Streptococcus sp., E. coli (Enteropathogenic), Klebsiella sp. And C. albicans were sensitive to C. albidum at 25 and 50 mg/ml. A. niger showed resistance to both extracts at the different concentrations used. The MIC of the methanol and ethanol leaf extracts of D. monbuttensis and C. albidum against the test microorganisms ranged between 3.125 and 100mg/ml.  This is indicative that D. monbuttensis and C. albidum leaf extracts can be used in the treatment of infections. Key words: Diospyros monbuttensis, Chrysophyllum albidum, extracts, antimicrobial, antifungal.