Antimicrobial Activities of Extracts of Tobacco Leaf (Nicotiana tabacum) and Its Grounded Snuff (Utaba) on Candida albicans and Streptococcus pyogenes Anumudu CK 1* , Nwachukwu MI 2 , Obasi CC 3 , Nwachukwu IO 2 and Ihenetu FC 2 1 Department of Microbiology, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria 2 Department of Microbiology, Imo State University Owerri, Nigeria 3 Department of Public Health, Imo State University Owerri, Nigeria * Corresponding author: Anumudu CK, Department of Microbiology, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, Tel: 08034457946; E-mail: anumuduck@fuotuoke.edu.ng Received date: October 22, 2018; Accepted date: January 17, 2019; Published date: January 28, 2019 Copyright: © 2019 Anumudu CK, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License; which permits unrestricted use; distribution; and reproduction in any medium; provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract This study was designed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of leaf and ground snuff extracts of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) against Candida albicans and Streptococcus pyogenes using methanol and water as extracting solvents. The study employed the agar diffusion and tube dilution assays. Methanol extracts of tobacco leaf produced zones of inhibition of 13.0 mm against Streptococcus and 9.5 mm against Candida, whereas the water extracts produced inhibition zones of 10.0 mm for Streptococcus and no inhibitory activity on Candida. A minimum inhibitory concentration of 25 mg/ml was recorded by the methanol extracts of tobacco leaves against Candida and 100 mg/ml MIC against Streptococcus. The methanolic leaf extracts had both bactericidal and fungicidal effect on both Streptococcus and Candida at a concentration of 200 mg/ml. The zones of inhibition obtained from methanolic extracts of grounded snuff against Streptococcus was 10.5 mm and 15.0 mm against Candida whereas the water extracts produced inhibition zones of 7.5 mm for Streptococcus and 11.0 mm against Candida. A minimum inhibitory concentration of 100 mg/ml was recorded by both methanolic and water snuff extracts against Streptococcus. While the MIC obtained from the methanolic extract of ground snuff against Candida was 50 mg/ml. The water extracts of ground snuff showed no bactericidal or fungicidal activity. Whereas 200 mg/ml of the methanolic extract of ground snuff was microbiocidal against Streptococcus and Candida. In summary, the study showed that Grounded snuff is more of an antifungal agent than antibacterial while tobacco leaves have great antibacterial potential. This may justify the use of tobacco leaves and its ground snuff in the treatment of oral thrush caused by Candida albicans and strep throat caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Methanol extract; Water extract; Tobacco; Ground snuff Introduction Innumerable biologically active compounds that are found in plants possess antibacterial properties [1,2]. Plant-produced compounds are of interest as sources of safer or more effective substitutes for synthetically produced antimicrobial agents [3]. Antimicrobial properties of medicinal plants are being increasingly reported from different parts of the world. e World Health Organization estimates that plant extracts or their active constituents are used as folk medicine in traditional therapies of 80% of the world’s population [4]. e antibacterial activities of these leaves are due to the presence of various secondary metabolites [5]. In recent years, secondary plant metabolites (phytochemicals), previously with unknown pharmacological activities, have been extensively investigated as sources of medicinal agents [6]. us, it is anticipated that phytochemicals with adequate antibacterial and antifungal efficacy will be used for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections. Since time immemorial, man has used various parts of plants in the treatment and prevention of various ailments [7]. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is an herbaceous perennial plant, native to tropical and subtropical America and cultivated worldwide [8]. Extracts of tobacco have been shown to effectively inhibit various Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and acid-fast Mycobacterium phlei [9]. It was also effective against the opportunistic Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans [10]. Furthermore, in vivo studies by Russel et al., [9] showed that high concentrations of nicotine in tobacco users reduced microbial loads in the oral cavity of smokeless tobacco users. Yildirim et al., [11] demonstrated that ether and ethanol extracts of seeds and leaves of tobacco had antimicrobial activities on Staphylococcus. While Wang et al., [5] demonstrated antimicrobial activities of tobacco extracts on E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. e aim of this study is to evaluate the activity of extracts from Tobacco leaf and its ground snuff against Streptococcus pyogenes and Candida albicans in vitro. Material and Methods Collection of samples Tobacco leaf and ground snuff used for this research were obtained from local retailers of herbs at Ekeonunwa market in Owerri Imo state Nigeria and identified at the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Imo State University Owerri. e collected leaves were washed thoroughly with tap water followed with sterile distilled water for the removal of dust and soil particles. e leaves were shade dried J o u r n a l o f T r o p i c a l D i s e a s e s & P u b l i c H e a l t h ISSN: 2329-891X Journal of Tropical Diseases Anumudu et al., J Trop Dis 2019, 7:2 DOI: 10.4172/2329-891X.1000300 Research Article Open Access J Trop Dis, an open access journal ISSN:2329-891X Volume 7 • Issue 2 • 1000300