ABSTRACT
This study explored the antimicrobial properties and chemical composition of the ethyl acetate extract from Moringa oleifera stem bark. Standard antimicrobial testing methods and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were utilized. The antimicrobial efficacy of the extract was assessed against clinical isolates, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger, using the agar-well diffusion method. The extract, a dark brown oily substance with a yield of 0.98%, exhibited inhibition zones ranging from 15 to 19 mm. GCMS analysis revealed nine bioactive compounds, with 9-octadecanoic acid, methyl ester being the most abundant (45.59%). Other identified compounds included 13-octadecenal, Di-n-octyl phthalate, 2-methyl hexacosane, 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, methyl stearate, and (E)-9-octadecanoic acid, ethyl ester. Many of these compounds possess antimicrobial activity, aligning with the extract’s effectiveness against both Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi. These findings validate the traditional medicinal use of Moringa oleifera in managing infections caused by the tested microorganisms. Keywords: Antimicrobial,bacteria,ethyl acetate extract,fungi, Moringa oleifera, stem bark.
