Antimicrobial Activity of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts against Pathogenic Bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Fungi (Candida albicans)

Abstract

Plants have many biologically active compounds which have latent for development as medicinal agents. Neem extracts and its different constituents play essential role in the inhibition of several microbes. Neem (Azadirachta indica), the versatile medicinal plant is the source of several compounds having diverse chemical structure and biological effects. The research aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of neem tree aqueous and methanolic extracts against pathogenic fungi and bacteria. It was conducted in the month of August 2021 at Microbiology laboratory, Federal University Gusau. The neem plant samples were collected behind Department of Biological Sciences of Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State. The plant sample were identified and authenticated in the herbarium of the Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Gusau.  The samples were shade dried and grounded in to powder using mortar and pestle. The aqueous and methanolic extracts of the plant samples were prepared using Soxhlet apparatus. Concentrations of 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml and 150mg/ml were prepared and used against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The results showed highest zone of inhibition in 150mg/ml and 100mg/ml and low zones of inhibition in 50mg/ml in aqueous and methanolic extracts of neem parts. It could be concluded that, neem parts of both aqueous and methanolic extracts showed effectiveness against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans in the composite concentrations, therefore, the plant can be used as a source of crude drugs in the production of synthetic drugs that can be used in the treatment of fungal and bacterial diseases.