Antimicrobial Activity of Leaves Extracts of Tamarindus indica L. (Magyee)

This study aimed to determine antimicrobial activity of extracts of Tamarindus indica L. leaves (Magyee). It was the laboratory-based quasi experimental study design. Study sites were the University of Pharmacy (Mandalay and Yangon) and the Department of Medical Research (Yangon). The leaves of Tamarindus indica L. were extracted with petroleum ether, ethanol and distilled water by successive Soxhlet extraction method. Physicochemical and phytochemical studies were conducted according to reference analytical procedures. In vitro antimicrobial activity of three extracts of Tamarindus indica L. leaves were studied on control strains of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae) by agar disc diffusion method. Phytochemical analysis of Tamarindus indica L. leaves showed the presence of alkaloids, amino acids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, polyphenol, starches, steroids/terpenoids, tannins, reducing sugars and anthroquinone. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts exhibited significant antibacterial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Both aqueous and ethanolic extracts possessed promising antibacterial activity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. This was an important finding upon pathogenic organisms causing food-borne diseases, skin and soft tissue infection. The petroleum ether extract did not show antibacterial activity against all tested organisms. With ethanolic extracts, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) results were 6.25 mg/ml for P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and 25 mg/ml for E. coli. For aqueous extracts, the MIC of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were 12.5 mg/ml and K. pneumoniae was 25 mg/ml, respectively. Oral acute administration of 5000 mg/kg mice body weight of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Tamarindus indica L. leaves resulted in no mortality. Therefore, the crude extracts from Tamarindus indica L. leaves had antimicrobial activity against K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and E. coli.