Antimicrobial and Therapeutic Potentials of the Ethylacetate Fractions of Crude Methanolic Extract of Monodora myristica Seed

Aim: The study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial properties and potential therapeutic applications of Monodora myristica seed.

Study Design: Antimicrobial evaluation design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry research laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka between January 2000 and February 2001.

Methodology: Standardized solutions of ethylacetate-soluble and ethylacetate-insoluble fractions of the methanolic extracts of Monodora myristica seed were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against some gram-positive bacteria, some gram-negative bacteria, a yeast and a mould using the agar disk method.

Results: The ethylacetate-soluble fraction showed significant activities against the gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis), gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli), the yeast (Candida albicans) and the mould (Aspergillus niger) with most of the activities comparable to those of the controls. Its activity against K. pneumoniae was greater than that of the control while its activity against E. coli was equal to that of the control. Its activities were also greater than those of the ethylacetate-insoluble fraction against most of the test organisms except against C. albicans where its activity was less than that of the ethylacetate-insoluble fraction. The activity of the ethylacetate-insoluble fraction against K. pneumoniae was also equal to that of the control. However both the ethylacetate-soluble and ethylacetate-insoluble fractions had no activity against the gram-positive bacteria (Staphyllococus aureus) and the gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi). Again, compared to the controls, the activities of both fractions against C. albicans and A. niger were not as strong as those against the other sensitive gram positive and gram negative organisms.

Conclusion: The ethylacetate-soluble fraction of M. myristica seed has greater antimicrobial activities than the ethylacetate-insoluble fraction. The activities of the ethylacetate-soluble fraction were comparable to those of the controls, being greater against K. pneumonia and equal against E. coli.