KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY- (WESTERN CAMPUS) ISHAKA BUSHENYI

ABSTRACT

( :modon dactyl on (Leaf) is a type of perennial grass that possesses great medicinal values.

\•IOJ·eover. medicinal plants are the important source of potentially useful structures for the

development of novel antimicrobial agents. Historically, plants have provided a source of the

development for novel drugs and plant derived drugs which have made large contributions to

human health and well-being. Till now very few plants have been scientifically proved by

di !Tcrent researchers for their medicinal potential but the therapeutic ability of number of plants

arc still unknown. In this study, two different solvents (Ethanol and water) were used for

extraction. These used to investigate the phytochemical constituents of the plant were used to

extract the bioactive compounds from the leaf of Cynodon dactyl on to screen the antibacterial

activity against infectious disease causing bacterial pathogen (Escherichia coli also known as E.

coli) using Agar well diffusion method. Antimicrobial study of ethanol and aqueous extracts

showed antimicrobial activity against the tested pathogen. Antimicrobial activity showed due to

presence of bioactivc compounds in both extracts. Ethanolic extract of C:vnodon dactyl on had a

mean zone of inhibition of24.3±0.6 and 20.3±0.6 against the susceptible and resistant strains of

F. coli respectively and aqueous extract of Cynodon dactyl on had a mean zone of inhibition of

I ').3 t0.6 and 16.3ci·0.6 against the susceptible and resistant strains of E. coli respectively. The

standard positive control had a mean zone of inhibition of 47.5±0.9 and 43.2±0.3 against the

'lrsccptiblc and resistant strains of E. coli respectively.