ANTIMICROBIAL ASSESSMENT TRADESCANTIA SPATHACEA

Abstract

T. spathacea is a perennial plant utilized internationally as ethnopharmacology to help difficulties like, colds, sore throat, whooping cough nose-bleed, anti-fertility agent, fever, bronchitis, tuberculosis, diarrhea, hypoglycaemic, snakebites and kidney disorders. The extracts and the chemicals derived from T. spathacea demonstrate a wide spectrum of pharmacological activity including anti-cancer, anti-tuberculosis, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, there is paucity of information on the antimicrobial activities of the flower. This study aims at evaluating the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of the flower of Tradescantia spathacea against Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp using nutrient agar.The extract was tested using Nutrient Agar plate at doses of 200mg/ml, 400mg/ml, 600mg/ml/, 800mg/ml against human pathogens Escherichia coli and Salmonella sppin triplicate. However,no zone of inhibition was observed. The methanolic extract ofT. spathacea did not show antimicrobial activities on tested pathogenic organisms.