Comparative assessment of antibacterial activities of Asclepias syriaca (Milk weed) leaf extract and antibiotic drugs on methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecium

This study was carried out to comparatively assess the antibacterial activities of the leaves extract of Asclepias syriaca (Milk weed) with antibiotics commonly used in the study area (gentamycin, tetracycline and ampiclox) on Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus and Stretococcus faecium. The study employed standard procedures to prepare the extract of the Asclepias syriaca, and then at the five concentration levels of 1mg/ml, 5mg/ml, 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml, the growth and inhibitions of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus aureus and Stretococcus faecium were examined. The results showed that the three bacteria species were found resistant to the antibacterial properties of the plant and no inhibition occurs at 1mg/ml but only at 25mg/ml for MRSA and inhibition occurs at 5mg/ml for both Staphylococcus aureus and Stretococcus faecium. The results further showed that the zones of inhibition increases as the concentration increases given different zones of inhibition ranging from 8.6mm – 15mm at MIC level and 27.0mm -31.3mm at 100mg/ml respectively. The control experiment with antibiotics and ethanol showed that gentamycin was very effective on the tested pathogens while tetracycline and ampiclox have reduced inhibitory effects but ethanol was found ineffective. The study therefore suggests that the Asclepias syriaca as a plant is a good source of antimicrobial agents. The ethnobotanical importance of this plant in traditional medicines is also justified and as such further investigation is needed for the isolation of the active compound responsible for the antibacterial activities.