Abstract

Momoh, M. A.* and Adikwu, M. U.

Substances extracted from lichens have previously been reported to possess antimicrobial activities against various groups of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Due to the high abundance of Parmelia perlata in the Eastern parts of Nigeria, we decided to explore the effect of colloidal silver on the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The lichen extract was obtained via cold maceration with ethanol. The phytochemical tests was carried out on the extract of lichen. The minimum inhibitory zone MICs of the ethanolic extract against S. aureus was determine and the solution of the colloidal silver was also determine separately on S. auerus, the MIC of each was noted and their admixture in the presence of concentration of colloidal silver using bore- plate method. Result of the phytochemical tests showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, steroidal aglycone, carbohydrates. The result also shows that, the ethanol extract of the lichen has activity on S. aureus while the colloidal silver at the dilution used, has very little activity on the S. aureus. It was also seen from the result that the zone of inhibitory of the ethanol extract was increased in the presence of colloidal silver and MICs is concentration dependent. It was therefore finally concluded that colloidal silver potentates the effect of ethanol extract of the lichen P. perlata