ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial activities of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of four different Nigerian Chewing 4 sticks were tested against strains of Staphylococcus aureiis, Pseudoinonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. These chewing stkks included Serindeia warneckei, Fcigara zantholoides, Distenionanthus henthan;ianiis and Anogeissus leiocarpus. The ethanol extract of the chewing sticks produced greater zones of inhibition than the aqueous extract. All plants tested displayed antimicrobial activities on one or more of the tested organisms but Distenionanthus henthaniian,,s showed greater antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus aureus( 17.8mm) and Pseiidomonas aeruginosa (16.9mm), while Fagara zantholoides displayed the highest antifungal activity against Candida aThicans with (8.5mm).Fagara zantholoides and Serindela warneckel had minimum inhibitory effect. The minimum inhibitory concentration tests of Distenionanthus benthainianus on Staphylococcus aurens and Pseudonuonas aeruginosa conducted were 6.25mg/mi and 25.0mg/mi respectively for aqueous extract while ethanolic extract were 3.13 and 3.13 respectively. The MW of Anogessuis leocarpus on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudononas aeruginosa are 6.25mg/mi respectively while ethanol i c extracts were 6.25mg/mi and 3.13mg/mi respectively. The MIC of the ethanolic extracts of Fagara zantholoides on test organisms were 3.13mg/mi, 3.l3mg/ml and 3.13mg/mi respectively while the aqueous extract of the plant has no MIC. Serindeia ivarnekei has in the ethanoiic extract for Staphylocus aureus and Pseudornonas aeruginosa were 50.0mg/mI and 50.0mg/mi respectively. The chewing sticks contain antimicrobial agents ,though the concentrations and compositions of the bioactive substances may differ amongst the management of orofacial infection caused by a broad spectrum of pathogenic organisms and are suitable for better dental care.