Investigating the Antibacterial Properties of Moringa Oleifera Against Escherichia Coli and Bacillus Cereus

Overview

Moringa oleifera , known as a “miracle tree,” has been historically used as a worldly medical remedy. The objective of this investigation aimed to test whether different mediums of Moringa Oleifera prevent bacterial growth of Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus. E. coli (gram-negative) has a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane, while B. cereus (gram-positive) has a thick peptidoglycan layer. This extra membrane difference makes gram -positive bacteria more susceptible to antibiotics. The three different mediums o f Moringa Oleifera that were tested consisted of a store-bought extract, a self-prepared paste, and crushed leaves from a homegrown plant. It was hypothesized that the extract would have the strongest effect compared to the other two treatments due to the extract’s high conc entration. The various scientific treatments and control variables were tested on E. coli and B. cereus in petri dishes that contained nutrient agar. After incubating the petri dishes for 24 hours at their respective temperatures, bacterial inhibition was determined by measuring zones of inhibition which are areas around a sterile disc where bacteria ceases to grow. After an ANOVA Single -Factor Test revealed a p -critical value under 0.05, the null hypothesis was rejected. A Tukey Test revealed that the positive control inhibited a significant amount of both E. coli and B. cereus, but Moringa Oleifera leaves only prevented a significant amount of B. cereus. These results show that Moringa Oleifera leaves prevent bacterial growth and could be used as a bacterial inhibitor in the future.

Competition history

• JSHS 2025 Category not listed

Resources

• National JSHS abstract book ↗

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