The advent of science to the search for antibiotics principally depends on medicinal plants as raw materials. This present study evaluated the antimicrobial effect of Carica papaya leaf extracts against bacterial and fungal agents that causes diarrhoea. Fresh tender roots and leaves of this plant was collected, air-dried, powdered and percolated in n-hexane, methanol and aqueous solvents. The antimicrobial activities of the extract against test organisms were tested by using agar well diffusion assay and the MIC, MBC and MFC values were determined by agar dilution assay. The results revealed that the crude methanol and aqueous extracts of Carica papaya had no anti-fungal activity, but have antibacterial activity. N.hexane extract of C. papaya had most activity than other solvents with MIC ranged from 25 mg/ml to 50 mg/ml and MBC ranged from 50 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml.These results suggest that paw paw leaf extract is recommended as a diarrhoea disease remedy.

Antimicrobial effect of Irvingia gabonensis leaf extracts was tested against bacteria and fungal agents that causes diarrhoea (Salmonella typhi, E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae and Candida albican). Fresh tender leaves of Irvingia gabonensis was collected, air-dried, grounded and soarked in n-hexane, methanol and aqueous solvents. The Antimicrobial activities were determined using agar well diffusion assay, then the MIC, MBC and MFC were determined by agar dilution assay. The results revealed that the crude methanol and n-hexane extracts of Irvingia gabonensis produced the highest antifungal effects against Candida albicans with the MIC of 25 mg/ml and MFC of 50 mg/ml. The crude aqueous extract of I.gabonensis had no antifungal activity on Candida albicans. The crude methanol extracts of Irvingia gabonensis produced the highest antibacterial effects with MIC ranged of 6.25 mg/ml to 25 mg/ml and MBC of 12.5 mg/ml to 50 mg/ml. These results suggest that Irvingia gabonensis leaf extract is recommended as a diarrhoea disease remedy.

Bush mango leaf (Irvingia gabonensis) is commonly used locally to treat diarrhoea. The present study evaluated the anti-diarrhoea effect of this plant extract on albino rats induced with castor oil. Fresh tender leaf of this plant was collected, air-dried, powdered and percolated in n-hexane, methanol and aqueous solvents. Diarrhoea was induced with castor oil on albino rats using standard procedures. The extract (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg) in a dose dependent manner, significantly protected the rat against diarrhoea induced experimentally with castor oil in terms of nature and number of stool droppings within 3 hrs of administration of extract, there was no significant difference when compared with the control drug (Loperamide) (P > 0.05). The study justifies the ethno pharmacological uses of this medicinal plant for treatment of diarrhoeal disease.