Isaac Scientific Publishing

Advances in Food Science and Engineering

Efficacy of Castor Oil in the Control of Throat, Skin and Enteric Bacteria

Download PDF (216.5 KB) PP. 95 - 99 Pub. Date: September 25, 2017

DOI: 10.22606/afse.2017.13001

Author(s)

  • Ayuba L.
    National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, P.M.B 8 Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
  • Agboire S.
    National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, P.M.B 8 Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
  • Gana A.K.*
    National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, P.M.B 8 Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
  • Ishaq M.
    National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, P.M.B 8 Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
  • Aliyu U.
    National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, P.M.B 8 Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
  • Affiniki G.
    National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, P. O .Box 6002 Bukuru, Plateau State, Nigeria.
  • Manjang J. I.
    Army Central Ammunition Depot, Agunu, P O Box 473 Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The potential of using castor oil as an antibacterial agent was investigated on three species of bacteria chiefly responsible for throat, skin and enteric infections. Staphylococcus aureus was used as the test organism for skin bacteria, the throat bacteria used was Streptococcus viridans, while for enteric bacteria, Shigella dysenteriae was used. Castor oil was extracted by cold pressing of seed kernels. The extract obtained was assayed for antimicrobial activity on the in-vitro growth of test organism using direct inoculation, paper disc method. These were soaked in the castor oil for 1 hour. The soaked discs were then placed on prepared plates each containing the test bacteria, the antimicrobial effect of the castor oil was observed by measuring the zone of inhibition of the agent against the test bacteria. The result showed that castor oil is highly effective against all the bacteria species tested; the zone of inhibition measured, showed that Staphylococcus aureus is more susceptible to the oil than the other bacteria with a range of 11-13mm while Streptococcus viridans had a range of 8-10mm and the least was Shigella dysenteriae which had a range of 3-6mm. The result obtained implies that castor oil can be used in the control of wounds, skin infections, throat infections and in the treatment of stomach unrest caused by these bacteria species.

Keywords

Castor oil, bacteria, skin, throat, enteric.

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