UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Page 45

CHAPTER 5

Summary of Findings, Conclusion, and Recommendation

This chapter shows the summary of results, conclusions and

recommendations of the study based on the analyzed data in the previous chapter.

5.1 Summary of Findings

The purpose of the study was to assess the inhibitory effect of different

concentrations of Azadirachta indica (Neem) plant leaf extract against gram

negative bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli). The research tested the anti-bacterial

property of Azadirachta indica as a potential alternative in inhibiting Escherichia

coli which causes diarrhea and other human diseases. From the conducted

experiment, different concentrations (25%, 50%, 75%, & 100%) of Azadirachta

indica (Neem) leaf extract were tested for its antibacterial property against

Escherichia coli. It was done through the observation of the induced inhibition zone

using the Disk Diffusion method and comparing the results to the guidelines of

Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). One-way ANOVA was used to

analyze the gathered data of the study.

The study conducted a total of three trials. In all of the trials, only the positive

control yielded a zone of inhibition. There were no observed formations of zones

of inhibition in any of the different concentrations of Neem leaf extract. The results

contradicted with some studies showing that Azadirahta indica (Neem) leaf extract

exhibits antibacterial property against E.coli. However, it agrees with some studies

that it is not effective antibacterial agent against E.coli, particularly against gram-

negative bacteria. According to the studies that agrees with the results, gram-
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negative bacteria such as E.coli contains a cell wall different from gram-positive

bacteria as its cell walls are of different compositions where in the case of the E.coli,

it is composed of lipopolysaccharide which protects it from certain chemical attacks.

Another factor that contributed to the ineffectiveness of the extract was the ability

of the bacteria to rapidly change its genetic makeup and its ability to change the

permeability of its membrane.

5.2 Conclusion

Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaf extract is not an efficient antibacterial agent

against Escherichia coli. The ethanolic extract of different concentrations of

Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaves did not yield zones of inhibition against the

gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli. Only the azithromycin yielded an

inhibitory zone. The null hypothesis was accepted which indicates that there really

is no difference between the inhibitory zones of the concentrations of the extract.

5.3 Recommendations

The researchers suggest to explore a wider variety of bacteria in which it is

preferably gram-positive than a gram-negative bacterium, wherein A. indica may

be efficient. Supporting studies have shown that Azadirachta indica shows a

significant difference commonly in gram-positive bacteria, but since E. coli is a

gram-negative bacterium, it therefore yielded no significant difference in the

different concentrations of A. indica. Another contributing factor may be the

adaptive behavior of E. coli to its environment. If so, the flavonoids of the neem

extract will not be efficient enough to inhibit the growth of the pathogen. If the future

researchers wish to stick with the same bacteria, it is recommended that the
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researchers use a different plant which contains various phytochemicals aside

from flavonoids that may inhibit the growth of the bacteria since A. indica only

contains one antibacterial phytochemical which is flavonoid. The proponents also

suggest finding more than one phytochemical besides flavonoid if future

researchers wish to stick with A. indica as their plant in their study.