RESUMO
The antimicrobial activity of the chloroformic, methanolic and aqueous extracts of Borreri seniensis were studied in vitro against. five standard bacterial species [Bacillus subtilis. Staphylococcus aureus. Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa] and two fungal species [Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans] by the agar diffusion method. The results indicated that the stem chloroformic extract was active against both Gram -positive and Gram-negative organisms. The stem methanolic extract showed high activity against Bacillus subtilis, low activity against Escherichia coli and no activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The stem aqueous extract showed high activity against both Gram-positive organisms, two Gram-negative organisms, namely Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris, and was inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All the extracts were inactive against the two standard fungi. Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The active extracts were further tested against a total of sixty clinical isolates, fifteen of each of Staphylococcus aurcus, Escherichia coli. Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, collected randomly from specimens from Sudanese patients. The stem chloroformic extract of Borreria seniensis at 200 mg/ml was more effective than Ampicillin 40 micro g/ml against Bacillus subtilis and Proteus vulgaris. Compared to Gentamicin at the same 40 micro g/ml concentration, the extract was more effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coil and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The stem methanolic extract of Borreria seniensis at 200 mg/ml was almost similar to Gentamicin 15 micro g/mi against Bacillus subtilis and Geamicin 5 micro g/ml against Escherichia coil. The stem aqueous extract at the same 200 mg/ ml concentration was found to be more effective than Ampicillin 40 micro g/ml against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus. Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This aqueous extract was found to be similar in action to Gentamicin 15 micro g/ml against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli and to Gentamicin at more than 40 micro g/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus vulgaris. The clinical isolates exhibited low susceptibility compared to the standard organisms