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Moringa oleifera Lamk. (Moringaceae) is a very useful tree in tropical countries. In folklore and
ayurvedic all parts of the tree used in different healing procedures for different diseases. The plant
leaves are very good nutrient supplement for malnutrition and also used as an antimicrobial agent.
The crude aqueous and alcoholic leaf extract of Moringa oleifera was subjected to phyto-chemical
analysis to determine the constituents of the leaf extracts. Results of phyto-chemical analysis showed
that the crude extracts contained Carbohydrates, Proteins, Resins, Tannin and Alkaloids. The
chemical compounds found in these extracts of Moringa oleifera leaf have good pharmacological
properties. The Solubility of Moringa leaf with nine solvents, results highest in water (32%) and
lowest in Hexane (5.0 %) solvent. The antimicrobial activity of the Moringa leaf was assayed against
one Gram- positive strains ( Staphylococcus aureus), two Gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and five fungal strains of agro-food interest (Penicillium
aurantiogriseum, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium digitatum, and
Aspergillus niger spp.). Staphylococcus aureus, E.coli as well as the fungal strains were sensitive
to the Moringa leaf extract . The traditional application of the leaf of Moringa oleifera as poultice
and decoction may have a scientific or pharmacological basis. These studies provide an evidence to
support traditional medicinal uses of the plant.
Keywords: Phyto-chemical, Moringa oleifera, Gram- positive and Gram-negative bacteria, Pharmacognostical.