International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

Antimicrobial properties and medicinal effects of Andrographis paniculata was carried out in this study. Andrographis paniculata leaves were collected from Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri and identified by a botanist. The clinical isolates of Klebsiella specie, Vibrio cholera and Escherichia coli were obtained from the Microbiology Department of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, identified and isolates were then sub-cultured on sterile Nutrient agar and the microbial culture were diluted with peptone water until the final suspension that contained about 1.5 x 10⁵cfu/ml of Vibrio cholera and Escherichia coli and 1.0 x 10⁵cfu/ml of Klebsiella specie, were obtained according to the method of Akujobi et al., (2004). Hot water and alcoholic extraction were adopted for this study. Results of the ethanolic extracts of Andrographis paniculata against the enteric bacteria showed that the ethanolic extracts had zones of inhibition of 10mm and 19 mm against Vibrio cholera and Klebsiella species. The minimum bactericidal concentration of the Andrographis paniculata against the enteric bacteria were 100 mg/ml each against Klebsiella species and Vibrio cholera. The minimum bactericidal concentrations were 200 mg/ml each against Klebsiella species and Vibrio cholera. This work has therefore shown that the ethanolic extracts of Andrographis paniculata can be used in treatment of diseases caused by susceptible enteric bacteria.