title: In vitro antibacterial effect of aqueous and ethanolic Moringa leaf extracts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antibacterial effect of aqueous and ethanolic moringa leaf extracts (Moringa oleifera) on the growth of gram-positive and negative bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paper disks were soaked with 100, 200, 300 and 400 μL of extract at 20 g/180 mL and 10 g/190 mL. All extracts were tested against Escherichia coli (ATCC25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923), Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC29212), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC27853), Salmonella enteritidis (IH) and Aeromonas caviae. The susceptibility tests were performed using the modified disk diffusion method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The strains E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. enteritidis (IH) were resistant to all treatments. In general, disks with 400 μL extract were the most efficient against S. aureus, V. parahaemolyticus, E. faecalis and A. caviae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicates a promising potential for aqueous and ethanolic Moringa leaf extracts as alternative treatment of infections caused by the tested strains.
authors.affiliation: Sea Sciences Institute, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jackson Rafael Oliveira
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.forename: Giselle Cristina
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Renata Albuquerque
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Joseí Res Lira
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: de Sousa Fontenelle
authors.forename: Gustavo Hitzschky Fernandes
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Antonio Adauto Fonteles
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: Regine Helena Silva
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: dos Fernandes Vieira
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D029588:Moringa oleifera / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts