EGIYI, MUNACHIMSO VERA (2026) ANTI MICROBIAL EFFECTS Anacardiumoccidentale (CASHEW) AND Vernonia amygdalina (BITTER LEAF) AQUEOUS AND ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS ON ORAL BACTERIA. Other thesis, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu.
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Abstract
Oral bacterial infections remain a major public health concern due to their association with dental caries, periodontal diseases, oral mucosal infections, and systemic health complications. The increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has created the need for effective, affordable, and safer antimicrobial agents from medicinal plants. Anacardium occidentale (cashew) and Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) are widely used in traditional medicine for treating microbial infections; however, information on the antibacterial activities of their stem extracts against oral bacterial pathogens remains limited. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activities of aqueous and ethanolic stem extracts of Anacardium occidentale and Vernonia amygdalina against selected oral bacterial isolates and determined their Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). Fresh stems were collected, authenticated, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted using distilled water and ethanol. Oral bacterial isolates were identified using colony morphology, Gram staining, and standard biochemical tests. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method at concentrations of 100, 50, 25, and 12.5 mg/mL. MIC was determined by broth dilution, while MBC was established by subculturing MIC broths showing no visible growth onto Mueller-Hinton agar. Amoxicillin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) served as the positive and negative controls, respectively. The isolates identified were Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. Both plant extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity against the test organisms. Vernonia amygdalina showed the highest activity, with maximum inhibition zones of 40 mm (aqueous) and 41 mm (ethanolic), while Anacardium occidentale produced inhibition zones of 37 mm (aqueous) and 29 mm (ethanolic). Antibacterial activity generally increased with extract concentration. The aqueous stem extract of Anacardium occidentale exhibited both MIC and MBC values of 25 mg/mL against the F4 (Bacillus spp.) isolate. These findings provide scientific evidence supporting the traditional use of both plants in managing oral bacterial infections and highlight their potential as sources of natural antimicrobial agents.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Other) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > QR Microbiology |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences |
| Depositing User: | MICHAEL MADUBUKO |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Jul 2026 14:59 |
| Last Modified: | 22 Jul 2026 14:59 |
| URI: | http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/6057 |
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