Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Corchorus olitorius L. (Molokhia) Extracts

Abstract

The present study describes the antimicrobial activity of 3 extracts of Corchorus olitorius L. (Molokhia) (Tiliaceae), collected
from Doğancı, Güzelyurt, North Cyprus. Successive petroleum ether, methanol and ethyl acetate+water extracts of C. olitorius
leaves were tested (in vitro) for their antibacterial and antifungal activities by agar-well diffusion assay. All extracts displayed
varied levels of antibacterial or antifungal activity. The petroleum ether extract exhibited antibacterial effect against all of the
bacteria tested and the diameter of zones varied between 14-20 mm. The petroleum ether extract of C. olitorius leaves presented a
good activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica, 20 mm, 19 mm and 19 mm, respectively.
The ethyl acetate+water extract presented a good activity against Geotrichum candidum and Botrytis cinerea, 20 mm and 12 mm,
respectively. The results obtained in this study appear to confirm the antibacterial and antifungal potential of C. olitorius leaves, as
well as its usefulness in the treatment of diseases that may be as a result of infection.