Evaluation of the Efficacy of Extracting Solvents on the Phytochemical, Antibacterial and Synergistic Effects of Bryophyllum pinnatum L. and Citrus aurantifolia SW.

The aim of this research was to assess the efficacy of different extracting solvents on the phytochemical, antibacterial and synergistic effects of Bryophyllum pinnatum and Citrus aurantifolia. Four bacterial species: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used as test organisms and the antibacterial activity of the extracts was determined by the agar-well diffusion method. Synergistic antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract ranged from 0 (no effect) to 24.0 ± 0.6 mm, the synergistic antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract ranged from 11.3 ± 0.9 mm to 23.5 ± 1.1 mm. Synergistic antibacterial activity of the methanol extract ranged from 16.7 ± 0.3 mm to 27.3 ± 0.6 mm while the synergistic antibacterial activity of the acetone extract ranged from 8.7 ± 0.9 mm to 22.7 ± 0.9 mm. Larger zones of inhibition were observed in the methanolic extract of the synergy than the other extracting solvents. Their antibacterial activity was compared with that of standard antibiotic and it was observed that the extracts compared well with the antibiotic. The phytochemical analysis of the extract was also carried out and results reveal the presence of phytochemical constituents which conferred antibacterial property on the plants. From the foregoing, the methanolic extract of the synergy is considered more effective in the treatment of infections caused by the test organisms than the other extracts from other extracting solvents.