Evaluation of Extract of Ficus Exasperata Vahl Root Bark for Antimicrobial Activities Against Some Strains of Clinical Isolates of Bacterial and Fungi

Ficus exasperata Vahl a small tree well known on account of its very rough leaves being used as paper widely spread in all eco-regions of Nigeria. The plant has been ethnobotanically reported to have diverse medicinal uses. It is used in herbal medicine to treat cough, hemorrhoid and lowering high blood pressure. Methanol and Ethylacetate extract of this plant were obtained by maceration and tested for antimicrobial activity using agar diffusion and micro broth method dilution techniques. The extracts were tested against strains of S. aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis, Ps. aeruginosa and fungi including four species of Candida. The study showed that extracts of Ficus exasperata root bark exhibited profound antibacterial activity against the typed and clinical isolates. High antifungal activity, particularly against the Candida species was noted as Candida species are implicated in candidiasis and vaginal thrush. Generally, the methanol extract was more effective than the ethylacetate extracts on the test micro-organisms. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration(MIC) of the extract was determined However, Phytochemical analysis of the root bark revealed the presence of saponin and cardiac glycoside which is an indication of medicinal significance of the root bark of Ficus exasperata. This study justifies the ethno pharmacological uses of these medicinal plants for treatment of microbial infections.