ABSTRACT

The use of herbal medicine has always been part of human culture, as some plants possess important therapeutic properties. The aim of the study is to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of herbal remedies sold in Umuahia metropolis Abia State. A total of twenty (20) different liquid herbal drugs Bitters herbal drugs, Goko Cleanser, Earth's herbal drug, Kyris herbal drug, and Venastat herbal drug were purchased randomly from herbal shops and retail outlets . The screening of antibiotic activities of the herbal drugs was in agar well diffusion method. The zones of inhibitions of 100, 80,40, 20, 10 and 5% of Goko cleanser herb on the S.aureus were 22, 18,14,9, 0 and 0mm respectively. .The zones of inhibition of 100, 80, 40, 20 10, and 5% of Goko cleanser on Salmonella spp were 18,16,14,12 10 and 0mm respectively. The inhibition zones of 100, 80, 40, 20, 10, and 5% of Goko Cleanser on E.coli were 19,16,13,10,8, and 0mm respectively. The zones of inhibitions of 100, 80,40, 20, 10 and 5% of Bitters herb on the S.aureus were 22, 18,15,13, 11, 0 and 0mm respectively. The zones of inhibition of 100, 80, 40, 20 10, and 5% of Bitters herb on Salmonella spp were 17,14,11,8,0 and 0mm respectively. The inhibition zones of 100, 80, 40, 20, 10, and 5% of Bitters herb on E.coli were 21,18,15,13,10, and 0mm respectively. The zones of inhibitions of 100, 80,40, 20, 10 and 5% of Earth's herb on the S.aureus were 16, 14,12,10, 8 and 0mm respectively. The zones of inhibition of 100, 80, 40, 20 10, and 5% of Earth's Herb on Salmonella spp were 13,11,9,7,0 and 0mm respectively. The inhibition zones of 100, 80, 40, 20, 10, and 5% of Earth's on E.coii were 17,15,13,11,9, and 0mm respectively. The zones of inhibitions of 100, 80,40, 20, 10 and 5% of Kyris herbal drugs on the S.aureus were 14, 12,10,8, 0 and 0mm respectively. The zones of inhibition of 100, 80, 40, 20 10, and 5% of Kyris herbal drugs on Salmonella spp were 17,15,13,11 8 and 0mm respectively. The inhibition zones of 100, 80, 40, 20, 10, and 5% of Kyris herbal drugs on E.coli were 20,17,14,11,8, and 0mm respectively. The zones of inhibitions of 100, 80,40, 20, 10 and 5% of Venastat herbal drugs on the S.aureus were 14, 12,10,8, 0 and 0mm respectively. The zones of inhibition of 100, 80, 40, 20 10, and 5% of Venastat herbal drugs on Salmonella spp were 16,14,12,10 9 and 0mm respectively. The inhibition zones of 100, 80, 40, 20, 10, and 5% of Venastat herbal drugs on E.coli were 15,13,11,8,0 and 0mm respectively. The zones of inhibitions of 100, 80,40, 20, 10 and 5% of Venastat herbal drugs on the S.aureus were 14, 12,10,8, 0 and 0mm respectively. The zones of inhibition of 100, 80, 40, 20 10, and 5% of Venastat herbal drugs on Salmonella spp were 16,14,12,10 9 and 0mm respectively. The inhibition zones of 100, 80, 40, 20, 10, and 5% of Venastat herbal drugs on E. coil were 15,13,11,8,0 and 0mm respectively. The MIICs of Goko cleanser on S. aureus, Salmonella sp and E. coil were 20%, 10%, and 10% respectively. The MICs of Yoyo bitters herb on S. aureus, Saimonella sp and E. coil were 20%, 20% and 10% nspectively. The MICs of Earths I-Ierb on S. aureus, Saiinonelia sp, and E. coil were 10%, 20% and 10% respectively. The MICs of Kyris Herb on S.aureus Salmonella sp and E.coli were 20",10% and 10% respectively. The MICs of Venastat herb S.aureus Salmoneila sp and E.coii wer€. 20%, 10% and 20%respectively. And the MICs of the control drug on S.aureus, Salmonella sp, and E.coii were 10%, 20% and 10% respectively, On the basis of the results, the antibacterial act vities of the herbal remedies shows varying level of sensitivity which is as a result of lack of tandardized protocol for the preparation of these herbal remedies and also the age of the herbal r;medy.