PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND ANTIMICROBIAL INVESTIGATION OF THE AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF THE GEL AND LEAF OF Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis MILLER) ON SELECTED MICROORGANISMS

Abstract

Objectives: Phytochemical constitutents and antimicrobial property of the aqueous extract of the gel and leaf extract on some pathogenic microorganisms. The phytochemical determined include Tannins, Saponins, Flavonoids and Alkaloids. The gel of Aloe vera extract had its highest antibacterial activity on B. subtilis (23.33±0.88) and highest antifungal activity on C. albicans (16.00±2.31). While the leaf of Aloe vera extract had its highest antibacterial activity on B. substilis and S. aureus (21.33±0.88) and highest antifungal activity on C. albicans (21.00±3.22). Comparatively, the Aloe vera gel extracts showed better antimicrobial activity than the Aloe vera leaf extracts against the pathogenic microorganisms in the study. The antimicrobial activities of Aloe vera gel and leaf extracts were compared to those of orthodox antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin and Ketoconanzone). From the results, the Aloe vera plant (gel and leaf) extracts showed better antimicrobial activity than the orthodox antibiotics, therefore, Aloe vera plant extracts have shown to have the ability to overcome antibiotics resistances amongst microorganisms. Results of the study on the gel and leaf extracts of Aloe vera indicates its potential as a source of chemotherapuetic agent that may be useful in medicine.