Powdered leaves of Acalypha godseffiana (L.) and Acalypha maccafeana (L.) were extracted with ethanol and chloroform using Soxhlet extractor. The extracts were screened for antimicrobial activity against confirmed extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing isolates of Escherichia coli, Citrobacter, Enterobacter and Salmonella species. The extracts were further subjected to preliminary investigation for phytochemical constituents. Sensitivity test results revealed that ethanolic extracts of the two plants have antimicrobial activity against the test organisms while all chloroform extracts showed no invitro inhibitory activity against the isolates at all concentrations tested. The results of phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, tannins and steroids.

Keywords: Screening, Acalypha spp., Antimicrobial activity, ESBL, Enterobacteriaceae