Pharmacognosic Study and Pharmacological Evaluation of Moringa Oleifera Lam.

Abstract

The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance as well as the evolution of new strains of disease causing microbial agents are of great concern to the global health community. Effective treatment of a disease entails the development of new pharmaceuticals or some potential source of novel drugs. Commonly used vegetable plants of our community could be an excellent source of drugs to fight off this problem. This study is focused on exploring the antimicrobial properties of the plant- Moringa oleifera Lam. that is commonly being used as traditional medicines. The antimicrobial potential of such plant extracts was screened against some pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, the petroleum ether extract, methanolic extract and aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. were tested against bacterial strains namely E.coli, Aspergillus niger and Bacillus cereus by agar well diffusion method. The obtained results indicated that the methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. showed efficacy against bacillus cereus. This study clearly indicates the future applicability of Moringa oleifera Lam. for the control of various diseases.