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Abstract
The antibacterial effects of ethanolic and aqueous crude extracts of Newbouldia laevis leaves on pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli isolated from ear infections were studied. The effectiveness of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts (12.5 mg/ml – 100 mg/ml) was assessed using the agar well diffusion method and the nutrient broth dilution technique. The susceptibility patterns of the organisms tested varied, but they were more sensitive at high concentrations. on test organisms, the zone of inhibition of aqueous extracts of Newbouldia laevis ranged from 4.5 to 10 mm, while the zone of inhibition of ethanolic extracts of Newbouldia laevis ranged from 7.0 to 22.00 mm. The antibacterial activity of leaf extract and the antibiotic standard were found to be significantly different when test bacteria were exposed to Newbouldia and ciprofloxacin. Antibacterial activity was higher in the extract against E. coli, Bacillus spp., and S. epidermidis. The findings suggest that N. laevis leaf extract has the potential to be used as a source for new broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat ear infections caused by test organisms.