Comparison of Bioactive Compounds in Medicinal Plants Used as Folklore Remedies in Southwestern Nigeria

In southwestern part of Nigeria Psidium guajava and Mangifera indica are commonly used for herbal preparations in the treatment of toothache, gastrointestinal disorders, dynsentery, diarrhoea, sore gums, and sore throats. This has therefore led to the investigation of the antimicrobial activities of methanolic extracts of Psidium guajava and Mangifera indica. Fifteen different bacterial isolates comprising of both Gram negative and Gram positive organisms were used. The results show that P. guajava and M. indica extracts exhibited autimicrobial activities at a concentration of 20 mg/ml. The zones of inhibition exhibited by P. guajava extract ranged between 12 mm and 30 mm while that of M. indica varied between 11 mm and 28 mm. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) exhibited by P. guajava extract against the tested organisms ranged between 0.313 mg/ml and 0.625 mg/ml. On the other hand MIC exhibited by M. indica extract varied between 1.25 mg/ml and 10.0 mg/ml. Overall, P. guajava extract show more antimicrobial activity than M. indica extract against tested organisms.