The antimicrobial activity of the leaves of Urtica massaica on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli.

Abstract

Medicinal plants have great potential for providing novel drug leads with novel mechanism of action. The present study aimed at determining the antimicrobial activity and phytochemical profile of methanol and aqueous extracts of Urtica massaica against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using the disc diffusion method. Inhibition zones of aqueous crude extracts of U. massaica arraigned between 6.50 and 6.67mm while those of methanolic extracts were between 6.33 and 8.42mm. The aqueous crude extracts of U. massaica did not show any antimicrobial activity against E. coli. The methanolic extract of the U. massaica showed presence of alkaloids, saponins, tarpenoids, steroids and flavonoids. It was concluded that the methanolic extracts of U. massaica could be potential source of drug formulation against the S. aureus and E. coli.