Year: 2026 | Month: July-September | Volume: 11 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 354-362
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijhsr.20260338
Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Examination of Moringa oleifera Seeds and Leaves (Zogale) Extracts on Some Bacterial Isolates
Jamaluddin Duwusu Umar1, Adamu Uba Muhammad2, Usman Abubakar Zage3
1Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, Kano State, Nigeria
2Department of Optometry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
3Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Sciences, Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Jamaluddin Duwusu Umar
ABSTRACT
Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae), locally known as “zogale,” is widely used in traditional medicine across Northern Nigeria for the management of infections and other ailments. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antimicrobial activity, and acute toxicological safety of M. oleifera seed and leaf extracts against five bacterial isolates. Following herbarium authentication (Accession Number BUKHAN 0011), extracts were prepared using water, ethanol at graded concentrations (30‑00%), and methanol. Aqueous and 30% ethanol extraction gave the highest yields (33.73 ± 1.65% and 33.89 ± 0.40%, respectively), while 95% ethanol gave the lowest (10.7%); a one-way ANOVA confirmed a statistically significant, solvent-dependent effect on yield (F (5,12) = 120.93, p < 0.001). Qualitative screening of the aqueous and methanol extracts detected alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, and anthraquinones in both, with saponins present only in the methanol extract and steroids absent from both. Quantitative analysis of the active extract showed flavonoids as the most abundant constituent (26.29 ± 0.11 mg QE/g), followed by total phenols (2.87 ± 0.04 mg TAE/g) and tannins (2.83 ± 0.07 mg TAE/g). The extracts produced measurable zones of inhibition against all five isolates, with the widest recorded against MRSA (7–13 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7–12 mm). Acute oral toxicity testing in adult Wistar rats (Lorke’s method) produced no mortality at 1600 and 2900 mg/kg, variable mortality at 5000 mg/kg, and an estimated LD50 of 1585–3808 mg/kg. Histopathology showed generally normal tissue architecture at lower doses, with mild-to-moderate hepatocellular necrosis and sinusoidal dilatation at higher doses, while the spleen was unaffected throughout. These findings indicate that M. oleifera seed and leaf extracts possess measurable antibacterial activity supported by a broad phytochemical profile, with a moderate acute toxicity margin that warrants dose-conscious use.
Keywords: Moringa oleifera; zogale; phytochemical screening; antimicrobial activity; acute toxicity; histopathology