2018, Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part D

author(s)
Gebrekidan Welegerima, Aragaw Zemene and Yemane Tilahun

abstract
Nowadays, plants with strong antimicrobial agents are becoming important alternatives to treat several infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of Opuntia ficus indica cladodes extracts against some selected bacterial isolates. Qualitative analysis of phytochemicals in the extracts was done using methanol, ethanol and chloroform solvents. Antibacterial activity of the extracts against bacteria isolates Escherichia coli (ATCC2592), Staphylococcus pneumonia (ATCC63), Salmonella typhi (B2836) and Bacillus subtilis (S456) were evaluated using agar well diffusion method. The extracts showed the presence of phenolic substances, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, alkaloids and amino acids. The highest inhibition zone recorded was by methanol extract against S. pneumonia (ATCC63) (10.29±0.96) followed by chloroform extract against B.subtilis (10.23±0.66). This finding indicated that Opuntia ficus indica cladodes have great antibacterial effects against bacteria isolates and needs further investigations to unveil their antimicrobial potential against other multidrug resistant microbial species.