Clinical Microbiology: Open Access

A novel approach to antibiotics and antifungals: Testing the effectiveness of Azadirachta indica extracts

3^rd Global Microbiologists Annual Meeting

August 15-17, 2016 Portland, Oregon, USA

Saket Myneni

Westwood High School, USA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Clin Microbiol

Abstract:

Azadirachta indica (neem) extracts have proven themselves to be a promising tool because they are natural and do not cause the harmful side effects of most artificial substances. Preliminary research has shown that certain natural substances can be used without the fear of a new resistant strain developing. Current treatments are plagued by artificial substances that can have harmful side effects to the body and may not be effective for multiple uses. Thus, this project aims to determine the effectiveness of natural substances as antibacterial and antifungal. Early research suggested that the neem oil would be the most effective extract because it would envelop the bacteria and fungi. Cultures of bacteria, specifically Staphylococcus epidermidis and Serratia marcescens and cultures of fungi, specifically Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were cultured and placed in separate plates. Zones of inhibitions were created using neem leaf extract, neem soap, neem oil, a water control and antibacterial soap control disks. The diameters of the zones where growth has stopped were compared using statistical significance tests to see if any of the natural extracts were more effective than the controls. The zones that were significantly different from the controls�?? zones were compared amongst each other to see if one extract was more effective than the others. This analysis has shown that the natural substances are extremely effective and significantly stronger than antibiotic and antifungal substances and the artificial substances in the soap. The remainder of the plate was then considered to be the pool of potential resistant strands. Thus repetitions were completed with each of the treatments. Since the growth was still inhibited without resistance, it became apparent that the neem extracts could have many practical purposes in treatments of infections. Given that only a few trials were completed, the experiment would have to be completed with more trials to prove the consistent effectiveness.

Biography :

Saket Myneni is a Member of the Westwood Class of 2017. He is the President of the National Science Bowl Club, the two-time Secretary of Area 1 HOSA and of the Seton Medical Explorer Post, Junior Class Parliamentarian and Parliamentarian of Westwood’s Skills USA chapter. He is a Member of the national honor society, Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society) and national Spanish honor society. He is a Research Assistant at the University of Texas and a volunteer at the University Medical Center at Brackenridge Teaching Hospital. Based on his efforts, he was awarded the Presidential Service Award to recognize his efforts to help the community. He has recently been selected as a finalist for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, after his research won numerous awards throughout the state of Texas.

Email: skmyneni@gmail.com