ACTIVITY OF THE MEDICINAL PLANT PARKIA JAVANICA AGAINST NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE MULTI DRUG RESISTANT AND OTHER CLINICAL ISOLATES: Running title: Anti-gonococcal activity of Parkia javanica

Objective: The objective of this study was to look into the in vitro activity of Parkia javanica against isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Methods: Methanolic extract of P. javanica bark (MEPJ) and organic fractionation were tested against one standard strain and 10 clinical isolates including one multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolate of N. gonorrhoeae through minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) tests. Results: The MDR isolate, standard strain, as well as all the clinical isolates were inhibited by MEPJ as well as all the fractions except water fraction. Chloroform fraction showed the best activity with MIC and MBC values, both being 0.2 mg/ml. Ethyl acetate fraction also showed MIC value at 0.2 mg/ml; however, MBC value was at 0.3 mg/ml. MIC and MBC values of MEPJ were both 0.3 mg/ml. Conclusion: Chloroform fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, and MEPJ bark showed the lowest MIC values and can be considered as prospective candidates for the development of antigonococcal topical drugs