Author(s): Samuel N. Osei-Djarbeng, Jacob Amonoo-Neizer, Portia Boadi, Priscilla N.A. Opoku, Samuel Osei-Asante

Abstract: The calyx of Hibiscus sabdariffa is used in making refreshing drinks in many parts of Africa including Ghana. The aim of the current study is to find out if a refreshing drink prepared from the calyx (known as sobolo) has antimicrobial activity and also to compare the antimicrobial activities of different solvent extracts of the calyx; using the agar well diffusion and the micro-broth dilution methods.
Sobolo showed the greatest antimicrobial activity with average diameter of zone of inhibition in the range 12–19 mm against the microbes employed in the study. The polar extracts exhibited the greatest antimicrobial activity with MICs of 125–250 µg/ml against the bacteria, and 1000 µg/ml against the fungi. The medium polar solvent extract showed average activity and the non-polar one, the least activity.The study has shown that sobolo has antimicrobial activity, and that polar solvents are more effective in the extraction of the antimicrobial principles in the plant.