Abstract

The antibacterial efficacy of leaves extracts of mango (Mangifera indica) and guava (Psidium guajava L.) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were determined. The analysis involved aqueous and ethanol extraction of the leaves and disc diffusion method. The results obtained show that the ethanol leaves extracts of mango and guava recorded inhibition zones of 10 mm and 11 mm respectively against Staphylococcus aureus while aqueous extracts of mango and guava leaves recorded a zone of inhibition zone of 10 mm and 0 mm respectively against Staphylococcus aureus; the combined leaves extracts of mango and guava recorded a zone of inhibition of 9 mm against Staphylococcus aureus. The results show a resistance of Escherichia coli to all plants extracts used in this study. The zone of inhibition of the standards antibiotics recorded a range of 0 mm (amoxycillin, ampiclox) and 18 mm (erythromycin, norfloxacin) for Escherichia coli and 9 mm (amoxicillin) to 20 mm (penicillin) for Staphylococcus aureus. The finding shows that mango and guava leaf extracts could be a good choice as natural antibacterial agents, hence, more effort should be directed to search of such agents of natural origin.