ABSTRACT

 Citrus aurantifolia (family: Rutaceae) is mainly used in daily consumption, in many cultural cuisines, and in juice production. It is widely used because of its antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antifungal, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant properties; moreover, it can protect heart, liver, bone, and prevent urinary diseases. This research was aimed at evaluating the antibacterial activity ofCitrus aurantifolia on respiratory pathogenic organisms and screening ofits bioactive supplements which are also known as phytochemical constituents. Respiratory tract pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Steptococci specie which were used as test organisms were isolated from sputum samples using streak method ofinoculation. These isolates were subjected to antibacterial susceptibility testing using ethanol, methanol and chloroform as the solvents. The diameter of zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were measured, phytochemicals present were screened. Higher activity was observed against Staphylococcus aureus by ethanolic, methanolic and chloroform extract followed by Streptococcus specie. This suggests that Citrus aurantifolia could serve as a good pharmaceutical tool in the production of drugs that could be used to treat infections fighting against respiratory tract in conjunction with solvents due to the presence of supplements like saponin, flavonoid, tannin and alkaloid which was observed after phytochemical screening