ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF NEEM TREE (AZADIRACHTA INDICA) LEAF EXTRACT ON STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

1.1 Introduction

The Neem also known as Azadirachta Indica, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for more than 4000 years due to its medicinal properties. Most of the plant parts such as fruits, seeds, leaves, bark and roots contain compounds with proven antiseptic, antiviral, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer and antifungal uses. It has great potential in the fields of pest management, environment protection and medicine. Neem is a natural source of eco-friendly insecticides, pesticides and agrochemicals (Brahmachari, 2004).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Neem is a tropical tree that has been declared non-toxic to humans. Previous studies revealed that it contains anti-bacterial properties and high-content of anti-oxidant called polyphenols. Neem tree extracts has an endodontic anti-microbial agent, an alternative to frequently employed Sodium Hypochlorite and Chlorhexide; both to inhibit the growth of endodontic pathogens.

Philippines is a country that has plenty of resources and biodiversity. Plants in different species just sprout and grow anywhere.Vegetations remain to be the most important part of human existence. Medicinal substances derived from different plants around us have become the most sought sources of medicines. However, a considerable number of people in our generation still do not recognize the value and significance of medicinal plants. Many people continue to rely on synthetic drugs for treatment of common illnesses despite their being expensive.

Nowadays, skin problems also proliferate fast and are equally disturbing just like any other diseases affecting our communities. This is the primary reason why researchers conceptualized this study to determine the anti-bacterial components of Neem (Azadirachta Indica) leaves extract and its possible effects against Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria that concerns most of the common skin problems.

Sodium Hypochlorite is now used in endodontic during root canal treatments. It is the medicament of choice due to its efficacy against pathogenic organisms and pulp digestion. Chlorexide is a chemical antiseptic. It is effective on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Staphylococcus aureus is facultative anaerobic Gram-positve coccus, and is the common cause of staph infections. It is frequently part of skin flora found in the nose and the skin. About 20% of human population is long-term carriers of Staphylococcus aureus can cause a range of illness from skin infection, such as pimples, impetigo, cellulitis follicutis, to life threatening diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis, bacteremia and sepsis. It is still one of the five most common causes of nosocomial infections, often causing post-surgical wounds infection.

Due to the high cost of medicines, unpredictable weather conditions that brought certain diseases specifically skin diseases, the continuous uplifting of herbal medicines and abundance supply of neem tree were the reason why the researcher conducted this study. Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Phytochemical and Antimicrobial of Neem Extract.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the neem tree has been recognized by the US National Academy of Sciences, which published a report in 1992 entitled ‘Neem – a tree for solving global problems’. Free radicals which have one or more unpaired electrons are produced as a result of metabolism in normal or pathological cell which role is crucial in cell injury accompanied by ageing and wide range of degenerative diseases including inflammation, cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, liver injury, Alzheimer, Parkinson and coronary heart pathologies (Halliwell, 1995; Erdemoglu et al., 2006; Gutteridge, 1994). Antioxidants prevent occurrence of these diseases by inhibiting the oxidation of oxidizable materials by scavenging free radicals and diminishing oxidative stress (Durackova, 2010; Reuter et al., 2010).

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of this study is to determine the antibacterial effect of Neem (Azadirachta Indica) leaves extract against Staphylococcus aureus. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To find out the antibacterial effect of Neem (Azadirachta Indica) tree leaf-extract on Staphylococcus aureus.
2. To determine the significant difference among the different levels of concentration; (a) 25%, (2) 50%, (3) 75%, (d) 100% of Neem tree leaves extract on Staphylococcus aureus as indicated by its zone of inhibition.
3. To determine what sample treatment showed the widest zone of inhibition and the smallest zone of inhibition.
4. To compare the effect of different levels of concentration of Neem (Azadirachta Indica) leaves extract on the zone of inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus to the control set-up.

1.5 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant difference between the levels of concentration: (a) 25%, (b) 50%, (c) 75%, (d) 100% of Neem leaves extract on Staphylococcus aureus as indicated by its zone of inhibition.
• H1: There is a significant difference between the levels of concentration: (a) 25%, (b) 50%, (c) 75%, (d) 100% of Neem leaves extract on Staphylococcus aureus as indicated by its zone of inhibition.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The anti-bacterial effect of Neem (Azadirachta Indica) leaves extract against Staphylococcus Aureus, will be a great help in discovering a herbal medicine.

More specifically, it is beneficial on the following context:

1. Community:

   They can obtain a cheaper medicine using a herbal plant within their place and they can resort to the Neem Tree.

2. Filipino People:

   Herbal medicine can be afforded by almost all of us due to its abundance in the community.

3. Department of Agriculture:

   They will benefit on the ideas and knowledge that Neem tree can be used as an anti-bacterial medicine.

4. Department of Health:

   Ideas and facts can be presented about the Neem tree that can be used as a medicine.

5. Pharmaceutical Companies:

   A cheaper medicine will be sold and they would gain on it and they would take the idea for herbal medicine.

6. Students:

   They could gain ideas about plants and can be used as a medicine and they can conduct further studies and researchers in relation to this study.

7. Researchers:

   Fellow researchers can get ideas and information about the uses of Neem tree especially in inhabiting bacterial growth. They can also study on the plants that are abundant in their place.

1.7 Scope of Study

The scope of this research is focused on the Antibacterial Effect of Neem Tree (Azadirachta Indica) Leaf Extract on Staphylococcus Aureus.

Experimental method was used in this study. The independent variables were the different levels of concentration of Neem tree leaf extract and dependent variable was the zone of inhibition exhibited on the cultured Staphylococcus aureus. This study is limited on the bacterial samples of Staphylococcus aureus.

Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used. The preparation of the extract, culture of bacteria and experimentation was conducted at West Visayas State University Biological Science Laboratory, July 2011.

1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).

1.8 Definition of Technical Terms

Antibiotics:

A remedy that was used in the study namely the Cloxacillin.

Bacterial Culture:

It is a process that the researchers did in culturing the bacterial sample

Cloxacillin:

An antibiotic intended to treat bacterial infections was used as the positive control set-up.

Extraction:

It is the process by which the juice is separated from other residue of the leaves. The tea extract was used to treat the Staphylococcus aureus.

Neem Leaves:

The part of the neem tree that was extracted and was used in the study in different levels of concertration.

Neem Tree:

The neem (Azadirachta Indica) tree leaf extract was used in treating Staphylococcus aureus.

Nutrient Agar:

It is a tool used as bacterial medium for bacterial culture.

Petri Dish:

It is a container where the nutrient agar was placed and cultured.

Phytochemical Analysis:

It is a data in which we obtained the information about the content of the variables used such as Thylanoids, Enzymes, Alkaloids, Tannins and Saponins.