JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY DISCOVERY
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2536-7064
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JBBD
Start Year: 2016
Email: jbbd@integrityresjournals.org
Phytochemical screening and antibacterial potential of Allium sativum (garlic) against clinically relevant bacterial isolates
https://doi.org/10.31248/JBBD2025.242 | Article Number: 7DC4B3753 | Vol.10 (5) - December 2025
Received Date: 27 September 2025 | Accepted Date: 29 October 2025 | Published Date: 30 December 2025
Authors: Ishaq, S. A.* , Yero, I. H. , Suleiman, S. A. and Chikwendu, L.
Keywords: phytochemicals., Anti-bacterial, Allium sativum (garlic)
The prevalence of counterfeit or substandard drugs is a widespread issue in the country today, particularly concerning antibiotics. This contributes significantly to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance among organisms that were once susceptible to these drugs. Consequently, evaluating the antibacterial properties of natural alternatives such as garlic becomes essential to justify their incorporation into herbal medicine formulations. This study investigated the activity of garlic ethanol and chloroform extracts against clinically important bacterial isolates, namely Citrobacter sp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using the agar well diffusion method. Ciprofloxacin (1 mg/ml) served as the standard control, while the test concentrations of the extracts were prepared at 100 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, and 12.5 mg/ml. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, steroids, alkaloids, volatile oils, balsams, and terpenoids. The results showed the least activity against Citrobacter spp. with 6.30 mm at 100 mg/ml. The garlic ethanol extract had an MIC value of 50 mg/ml, while the garlic chloroform extract had an MIC value of 100 mg/ml. The garlic ethanol and chloroform extracts had MBC values only at 100 mg/ml. The result of this study shows that the extracts had activity against the test organisms and as such could be a potential therapeutic against the tested organisms.
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