A STUDY OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA (CHRISTM.) SWINGLE PEEL ESSENTIAL OILS ON BACTERIA AND FUNGI OF CLINICAL IMPORTANCE CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA

Résumé

Abstract

Background: The increasing tolerance of several microorganisms against commonly used antibiotics represents a challenge for scientists to find alternative ways for the treatment   of such infections. A study was carried out to determine the effect of Citrus aurantifolia peels oil extract on clinical bacteria and fungi obtained from routine laboratory benches of the department of pharmaceutical microbiology, University of Ibadan.

Methods:Citrus aurantifolia peels oils was extracted by hydro-distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus, distillates of essential oils were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and then concentrated at 30⁰C using a rotary evaporator. Conventional biochemical characterization of the isolates and antibacterial assay of the extract on the isolates was carried out.

Results: The antibacterial activities of the essential oil from Citrus aurantifolia peels  on  test isolates elicited  zones of inhibition that ranged between 15mm and 20mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration elicited antimicrobial and antifungicidal  activity on all tested isolates, with MIC values range between  0.39 mg/mL  as recorded   in Salmonella typhi and Bacillus subtilis  and  3.125mg/mL as obtained in  Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia while the MFC values range between  0.391 and 0.78 as elicited in Trichophyton rubrum  and Candida albicans.  Conclusion: Essential oils of Citrus aurantifolia peels demonstrated remarkable antimicrobial and antifungicidal activity on all the isolates tested which is suggestive of its potential and may be  used as therapeutic agent   for  the treatment of  microbial infections when further purified.