1Unit of Medical Parasitology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu
2Unit of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu
3Division of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, K45, Old Main Building Groote Hospital, Observatory-7925, South Africa
4Unit of Plant Taxonomy and Ecotoxicology, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu
*Corresponding Author E-mail: etusimp@gmail.com and eby4eva7000@yahoo.com
Online published on 21 September, 2013.
This study is provoked by the paucity of information on the antibacterial or pharmacological activities of Aloe vera stems and roots. The antibacterial activity of Aloe vera leaf, stem and root extracts on three organisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Proteus mirabilis) was investigated using agar well diffusion method. The Aloe vera leaf extract proved to be most effective. Both Aloe vera leaf Cold Water Extract (CWE) and Ethanol Crude Extract (ECE) demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against the sampled organisms. CWE of Aloe vera stem showed no antibacterial activity in the bacterial species while ECE had antibacterial activity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis. The root CWE and ECE only exhibited antibacterial activity on Proteus mirabilis. The stems had no antibacterial activity on Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extract with the highest antibacterial properties was ECE of Aloe vera roots. There is therefore a need for the inclusion of Aloe vera roots in Aloe vera antibacterial efficacy studies.
