Antibacterial activity of the stem bark of Boswellia dalzielii

Abstract

Crude extracts of the stem bark of Boswellia dalzielli were tested for antibacterial activity. Values for the minimum inhibitory concentration (M IC) for gram-positive' bacteria indicated that Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible, followed by Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6570. Staphylococcus epidemidis, Bacillus cereus and the least was Bacillus megaterium. Similarly, MIC values for gram-negative bacteria showed that inhibitory activity was most pronounced for Klebsiella pneumoniae followed by Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli NCTC 10418, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. From the minimum bactericidal concentration (M BC) values, it was found that the bactericidal activity of both gram-positi ve and gram-negative bacteria followed the exact pattern of the MIC. In general, gram-negative bacteria were more susceptible than gram-negative ones. Data from viable count determination showed that microbial growth was inhibited, in both Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae when various concentrations of the crude extract were added.