ABSTRACT  

Antibacterial activity, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of methanolic extracts from leaves of Aichornea cordifolia and Spondias mombin were investigated against bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus subsp. Aureus (ATCC®25923TM Escherichia coli (ATCC®25922TM), Pseudomonas acruginosa (ATCC®227853T ), Enterococcus [aecalis (ATCC®28765TM) and Mycobacterium smegmatis (ATCC®14468TM). The mean diameter of zone of inhibition produced by the varying concentration of the plant extracts against the test organisms ranged from 8mm to 22mm with MIC and MBC values ranging from 0.78 to 12.5 (ig/ml). The leaf extracts of Aichornea cordfolia had antimicrobial activit against S. aureus subsp. Aureus (ATCC®25923TM), Enterococcus faccalis (ATCC®7080 M), and P. aeruginosa (ATCC®27853TM), with mean diameter zone of inhibition that ranged from 1 1mm to 22mm. The methanolic extracts from leaves of Alchlornea codifolia had antimicrobial activity against all the test organisms at concentrations of 25mg/mi, 50mg/mi and 100mg/mi of the extracts but had highest activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudonionas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus while the methanolic extracts from leaves of Spondias mombin had antimicrobial activity against Staphyloëoccus aureus and Entero coccus faecalis but Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Mycobacteriuni sniegniatis showed some degree of resistance at concentrations of 25mg/mi, 50mg/mi and 100mg/mi of the extract. The results of the antimicrobial activities showed that Aichornea cordfolia have more inhibitory effects against the test organisms compared to Spondias mombin. This suggests that the bioactive compounds are more in A. cordifolia. The antimicrobial activities provide justification for the use of these medicinal plants in the traditional treatment of certain diseases and infections caused by the test organisms and thus further studies towards the medicinal potential of these plants should be carried out.