EVALUATION OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTY OF Eugenia aromatica (L. bali) AND Myristrica fragrans (L.) AGAINST THE GROWTH OF MICROORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH DANDRUFF (Malassezia restricta AND Propionibacterium acne)

Abstract

This work was aimed at assessing the antimicrobial activities of Eugenia aromaticum and
Myristic fragrans buds and seeds extracts on Propionibacterium acne and Malassezia restricta
causing dandruff infection. The microbial strains were obtained from the Microbiology
Laboratory of the Federal teaching hospital, Gombe. The phytochemical constituents of the plant
extracts and antimicrobial testing of the extracts on bacterial and fungal strains were carried out
using agar well diffusion method. The determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration
(MIC) of the extracts were carried out using broth dilution method. Analysis of Variance
(ANOVA) test was used to analyze the data obtained to determine if there was significant
difference between the aqueous, n-hexane and chloroform extracts used. The phytochemical
screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids and
glycosides in both plant extracts. The result showed that all the extracts were efficient against the
growth of M. restricta and P. acne at all concentration. Aqueous plant extract shows highest
zone of inhibition against the tested bacterial and fungal isolate. The minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC) of M. fragrans extracts; aqueous, n-hexane and chloroform against M.
restricta was determined at 0.5mg/ml, 5mg/ml, and 50mg/ml concentration respectively and that
of P. acne was determined at 5mg/ml for all the plants extracts. The MIC of E. aromaticum plant
extracts were at 0.5mg/ml, 5mg/ml and 50mg/ml for aqueous, n-Hexane and chloroform extracts
respectively against M. restricta and P. acne. The extract of M. fragrans and E. aromaticum
inhibits the growth of M. restricta and P. acne to a certain extent. Hence have antimicrobial
potential which may be helpful in the management of dandruff infection.