Antimicrobial Profile Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Against Selected Pathogens

Abstract

Azadirachta indica a well-known medicinal plant that has long been utilized for its many therapeutic benefits. This research assesses the antibacterial and antifungal properties of A. indica leaf extracts against the fungal strains Trichoderma viride, Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus as well as therapeutically relevant pathogens such as Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of A. indica were determined by measuring the zones of inhibition by Agar Well Diffusion Method. Four tested bacterial strains were inhibited by A. indica extracts with K. pnemoniae showing highest activity at 0.3g/ml of 18mm and lowest activity shown by S. typhi at 0.4g/ml of 11 mm. Antifungal activities against Rhizopus stolonifer was inhibited with zone of inhibition of 20mm. A. indica offers an environmentally friendly approach that could help create new therapeutic strategies as the problem of antibiotic resistance increases globally.