Susceptibility of Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans to Extracts of Cola acuminata.

*C. I. Mboto¹ and P. Udoh²

*¹Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Calabar, Calabar-CRS, Nigeria.

²Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Uyo-AKS, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author’s Email:ibi.mbotosnr@gmail.com; 

Tel: 234 803 7618 412.

Accepted 08 May, 2014

Abstract

Ethanolic extract of the seed of Cola acuminata was evaluated for its antimicrobial and antifungal activities as compared to standard anti-microbial agents using Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans following standard microbiological procedures. Phytochemical screening of the seed extracts reveals abundance presence of Tannins, Cardiac glycosides, flavonoids and Phlobatanins and moderate presence of Alkaloids with a total absence of Saponins. At 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml, 200mg/ml and 400mg/ml concentrations of the extract used, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were susceptible to all except the later which was resistant to 25mg/ml concentration. Proteus mirabilis was resistant to all concentrations of the extract employed. Staphylococcus aureus was susceptible to vancomycin (30μg) yielding 18mm zone of inhibition as compared to the seed extract (20mm). Proteus mirabilis was susceptible to 10μg of Gentamycin (16mm), while Candida albicans was susceptible to Clotrimazole (50μg) yielding 17 mm zone of inhibition as compared to the seed extract (20mm). The Minimum inhibitory concentration of the extract was 50mg/ml and 25mg/ml for Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans respectively. This study shows that ethanolic extract of Cola acuminata is a superior antimicrobial agent against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, but not for Proteus mirabilis as compared to the drugs evaluated. 

Keywords: Cola acuminata, antimicrobial, antifungal, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans.