Phyllanthus amarus and Parquetina nigrescens are economic plants
grown in West Africa for antimicrobial properties. Crude aqueous (hot
and cold water) and ethanolic extracts of the plants were investigated
for antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhi . The organism was
collected from the University College Hospital, lbadan, Nigeria and was
exposed to ten standard different antibiotics and also to crude extract
of P. amarus and P. nigrescens. Agar cup diffusion method was employed
fro the plants extracts while disk diffusion method for the standard
antibiotics. Ethanolic extracts of P. amarus had the strongest activity
against Salmonella typhi with 8.0mm zone of growth inbibition followed
by hot water (4.7mm) and cold water (3.8mm). This was statistically
significant at P= 0.05 when compared with hot and cold water extracts.
Amongst the commercial antibioticis examined, ciprofloxacin had the
highest zone of growth inhibition of 9.0mm; Oflxation (6.0mm)
Amoxycillin, (4.0mm) while other antibiotics had on effect on test
organism. Screening carried out on P. amarus and P. nigrescens using
standard methods revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins
and cardiac glycosides. P. amarus possesses significant antimicrobial
activity and confirms the justification by herbalists as extract used
for treatment of typhoid fever
