Antimicrobial activity of Moringa Oleifera seed extract against Escherichia Coli, Enterococcus Faecalis isolated from well-water sources in Makindye Division

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera seeds against selected microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis) that were isolated from water obtained from well-water sources within Makindye division of Uganda. Agar well diffusion technique was used to assess the antibacterial effect of the extract on E. coli and E. faecalis and Ciprofloxacin was used as a positive control. Two- fold serial broth dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibition concentration of the extract against the selected microorganisms. The study revealed that the ethanolic extract of M. oleifera seeds had a degree of antibacterial activity against the selected test microorganisms (E. coli and E. faecalis) that were isolated from the well-water samples. The ethanolic extract inhibited growth of E. coli at an MIC of 0.25 g/ml with a mean inhibition zone of 10.75 mm while E. faecalis growth was inhibited at an MIC of 0.125 g/ml with a mean inhibition zone of 21.50 mm. The results of this study revealed that M. oleifera seed extract could be used to considerably reduce the quantity of microorganisms in raw water and thus be used to develop new cheaper water treatment alternatives to avail safer water for human consumption from the well-water sources in the rural communities of Makindye division in Uganda.