Comparative Study of Antimicrobial Potency and Phytochemical Analysis of Methanolic Extracts of the Leaf and Flower of Luffa cylindrica

Leaf and flower methanolic extracts of Luffa cylindrica were investigated for antimicrobial activities and phytochemical constituents. The extracts were tested against four bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi) and two fungal strains (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans) by using the agar-well diffusion method while the phytochemical constituents were quantified using standard procedures. The result of the antimicrobial activity revealed that the methanolic leaf extract was more potent than that of the flower against bacterial strains used while methanolic flower extract exhibited a better antifungal activity against Candida albicans and A. niger. The phytochemicals analysed include alkaloid, tannin, saponin, phytate and oxalate which were quantitatively higher in flower extract that leaf extract. The methanolic extract of the leaves and flowers of Luffa cylindrica holds great promise for the development of effective drugs for the treatment of bacterial infections and more efficiently against Candida albicans infection. Keywords: Luffa cylindrica, antimicrobial activity, phytochemical, agar-well diffusion, methanolic extract