Assessment of the Antimicrobial Effect of &lt;i&gt;Moringa Oleifera&lt;/i&gt; Seed Powder in the Treatment of Water for Consumption in Cameroon: The Case of Borehole Water in the Kribi Area
Authors: Mengouna Jean-Rosaire , Kamga Hortense , Abange William , Tchuedji Yves , Nga’Awono Thérèse , Ndjonka Dieudonné 
Published: February 2025

&lt;i&gt;Background&lt;/i&gt;: Drinking water is a vital natural resource whose effective access remains a major concern in sub-Saharan Africa, as in Cameroon, where the majority of the population is confronted with the consumption of untreated water from boreholes or wells that pose as health risks. As a result of this, the integration of biological processes for treating water using a non-toxic natural product; &lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera&lt;/i&gt;), could be a sustainable alternative for improving the quality of drinking water. The aim of this study was to assess, compared to the one in which of conventional antimicrobials, the antimicrobial effect of &lt;i&gt;M. oleifera&lt;/i&gt; seed powder in the treatment of water for potable purpose in Kribi, Ocean Division in the South Region of Cameroon. &lt;i&gt;Material and Methods&lt;/i&gt;: An experimental study was conducted from November 2023 to June 2024. Borehole water was collected from four different quarters (one each) in Kribi I and II and transported in a cooler to Yaounde within 24 hours, at the Microbiology Laboratory of the HIMT (Higher Institute of Medical Technology) for analyses. In the laboratory, we cultured these untreated waters, isolated and identified the microorganisms using conventional methods and API20E, and the antimicrobial susceptivity of microorganisms was determined according to disc diffusion methods for antibiotics and antifungals. The contaminated water with confirmed identified microorganisms were later treated with increasing concentrations (0.15 g, 0.25 g and 0.35 g) of &lt;i&gt;M. oleifera&lt;/i&gt; seed powder. The antimicrobial activity of the Moringa seed powder was assessed again by calculating the microbiological deduction rate. &lt;i&gt;Results&lt;/i&gt;: Four different types of microorganisms were isolated and identified from the borehole water samples, with frequencies of 25% for &lt;i&gt;Escherichia coli&lt;/i&gt;, 25% for &lt;i&gt;Staphylococcus aureus,&lt;/i&gt; 25% for &lt;i&gt;Candida&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;albicans&lt;/i&gt; and 25% for &lt;i&gt;Candida sp. &lt;/i&gt;The sensitivity profile demonstrated that &lt;i&gt;E. coli&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;S. aureus&lt;/i&gt; were sensitive to 13.33% and 23.08% respectively of the antibiotics tested, &lt;i&gt;C. albicans&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Candida.&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;sp&lt;/i&gt; sensitive each to 100% of the antifungals tested. Microbiological activity rates with &lt;i&gt;M. oleifera&lt;/i&gt; seed powder varied from 86.7% to 100% for &lt;i&gt;E. coli&lt;/i&gt;, 83.34 to 100% for &lt;i&gt;S. aureus&lt;/i&gt;, 100% each for&lt;i&gt; Candida sp &lt;/i&gt;and &lt;i&gt;C. albicans. Conclusion&lt;/i&gt;: Our findings revealed increasing antibacterial and antifungal activities of &lt;i&gt;M. oleifera&lt;/i&gt; seed powder after a short settling time, thus demonstrating its importance in improving the quality of drinking water for human consumption and preventing health risks.