Abstract

The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases has been in practice since ancient times in different parts of the world. Plants have the major advantage of still being the most effective and cheaper alternative sources of drugs among which Ocimum gratissimum is one of such plants. This study was aimed at conducting ethnobotanical survey and evaluating the antibacterial activity of a selected medicinal plant (Ocimum gratissimum) in New Bussa. Oral interview was used to obtain information from herbalist and traditional medicine practitioners for the ethnobotanical survey while standard laboratory procedures were used to conduct qualitative phytochemical analysis. Agar well diffusion and dilution methods were used to determine zones of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration respectively. Eight (8) medicinal plants (Cucumis melo, Citrus limonum, Adansonia digitata, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Ocimum gratissimum, Zingiber offinalis, Carica papaya, and Moringa oleifera) were documented from the ethnobotanical suvrey. Ocimum gratissimum hydro-methanol extract revealed the presence of tannins, phenols, sterols, saponnins, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides and phlobatannins while flavonoids were not detected A significant increase in antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pneumonia and Klebsiella pneumonia was observed in 50, 100 and 150mg/ml extract concentration. The activity of Ocimum gratissimum extract against the test organisms revealed significant increases at all concentrations (50, 100 and 150mg/ml) compared to the standard drug (Ampiclox 30µg and ciproflaxin 10µg). Ocimum gratissimum hydro-methanol extract reveled MIC against Streptococcus pneumonia and Klebsiella pneumonia of 10-3 and 10-4 mg/ml respectively. The potency of these plant extract against certain bacteria supports its traditional usage, furthermore it may contain their potential to be used as an alternative synthetic antibiotic.