ABSTRACT
The antibacterial activities of ethanol extracts of the leaves of Ficusexasperata and Alchornealaxiflora were investigated against four bacterial pathogens using the agar dilution method. The extracts were obtained by maceration of powdered dry leaves in ethanol for 24h. The four bacterial pathogens used were Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Entreococcusfaecalis ATCC 7080 and Salmonella typhi. The study showed that ethanol extract of the leaves of Ficusexasperatainhibited the growth of S. aureus, E. coli and E. faecalis at concentrations of 10,000mg/ml and 5,000mg/ml. the extracts of Alchornealaxiflora had antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus atconcentrations of 10,000mg/ml. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of FicusexasperataaginstE. faecalis were 5,000µg/ml and 10,000µg/ml, respectively. The MIC and MBC values against E. coli were 3,000µg/ml and 4,000µg/ml respectively. The extracts of Alchornealaxiflora were less active, with MIC and MBC values against E. faecalis were 6,000µg/ml and 10,000µg/ml,respectively. The qualitative phytochemical Screening showed the presence of Terpenoids, Flavonoids andsaponins in Ficusexasperata and the presence of Flavonoids, Saponins and Tannis in Alchornealaxiflora. The work has shown that the ethanol extract of these medicinal plants possess antibacterial activity which could be due to the phytochemicals present in the leaves. These findings support the use of these medicinal plants in traditional medical practice.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Table of Contents v
List of Tables ix
Abstract x
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1
Aims and Objectives 3
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Medicinal Plants
4
2.2
Phytochemicals 4
2.2.1Alkaloids 5
2.2.2
Phenols 6
2.2.3
Tannins 6
2.3
Medicinal use of Alchornealaxiflora 6
2.4Hepatoprotective
activity and flavonoids of Alchornealaxifloraleaf
extract 7
2.5 Ficusexasperata 10
2.5.1
Traditional uses of Ficusexasperata 11
2.5.2
Medicinal uses of ficusexasperata 11
CHAPTER THREE:MATERIALS
AND METHODS
3.1
Collection of Plant Materials 14
3.2
Preparation of the Leaf Extract 14
3.3
Ethanol Extract Preparation 14
3.4 MEDIA 14
3.4.1
Media Used 14
3.4.2
Preparation of Media 15
3.4.3
Preparation of Stock Solution of Extract 15
3.5
Agar Solution Susceptibility Testing 15
3.6
Determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration 17
3.7 Phytochemical
Screening 18
3.7.1
Test for Tannis 18
3.7.2
Test for Saponin 18
3.7.3
Test for Flavonoid 18
3.7.4
Test for Terpenoids 18
CHAPTER FOUR:RESULTS 19
CHAPTER FIVE:DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Discussion 24
5.2
Conclusion 25
5.3
Recommendation 25
REFERENCE
LIST OF TABLES
Table Title
of Tables Page
1: Susceptibility of test organisms to various
concentration of the Ethanol extracts. 20
2:
Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration values
(µg/ml) of Ficusexasperata extracts
against susceptible organisms. 21
3:
Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration values
(µg/ml) of Alchornealaxiflora
extracts against susceptible organisms. 22
4:
Qualitative phytochemical analysis of Ficusexasperta
and Alchornealaxiflora 23
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Medicinal
plants have been identified and used throughout human history. Traditional
medicine practice using plants has been known for centuries in many part of the
world (Sofowora, 2008) and these plants make many chemical compounds that are
for biological functions, including defense against insects, fungi and
herbivorous mammals. The chemical compounds in plants mediate their effect on
the human body through processes identical to those already well understood for
the chemical compounds in conventional drugs; thus herbal medicines do not
differ greatly from conventional drugs in terms of how they work.
Medicinal
plants typically have essential oils in their tissues or seed that prevent
bacteria, mold or other microbes from growing. The essential oil present on
common thyme contains 20.54% thymol, and thymol is a powerful antiseptic and
antifungal that is used in a variety of products (Pierce, 1999). Before the
advent of the modern antibiotics, oil that is present in thyme was used to medicate
bandages (Ramsewak, 2003). The thymol is also used to treat respiratory
infections, common herbs like peppermint, basil; oregano and rosemary also have
these essential oils that prevent microbial growth.
Medicinal plants
synthesize a wide variety of phytochemicals which include alkaloids, tannins,
flavonoids, steroids, saponins and phenols, which are all useful sources of
medicine. The use of medicinal plants all over the world predates the
introduction of antibiotics and other modern drugs into Africa (Haslamet al., 1989). Medicinal plants
constitute an effective source of antimicrobial natural products. Historically,
plants have provided a source of inspiration for novel drug compounds as
plant-derived medicines have made large contributions to human health and
well-being.Their role is twofold in the development of new drugs. (a) They may
become the base for the development of a medicine a natural blue print for the
development of new drugs and (b) A phyto-medicine to be used for the treatment
of disease (Iwuet al., 1999). Many
diseases have been handled traditionally and these include diarrhea, dysentery,
malaria, bacterial and fungal infections and worm infestation (Oguekeet al., 2006).
The medicinal uses of
plants range from the administration of the roots, barks, leaves and seeds to
the use of extracts and decoctions from the plants (Sofowora, 1982, Ogbulieet al., 2004).
Screening of medicinal
plants for antimicrobial agents has gained much importance in development and
utilization of medicinal plant resources is the traditional system of medicine
in the developing countries, so as to extend the health care to maximum number
of population in these countries (Goudet
al., 2005). In addition, screening of compounds obtained from plants for
their pharmacological assays has indeed been the vast source of great
therapeutic agents represented by molecular diversity engineered by nature
(Mohantaet al., 2007). Therefore,
plants around us can be investigated for the purpose of identifying those that
may be potent against infections organisms, and useful in treating ailments
caused by microorganisms (Akinpeluet al.,
2009).
The plants used for this
research work include Alchornealaxiflora
and FicusexasperataAlchornealaxiflora belongs to Euphorbiaceaefamily; it is a
deciduous shrub and about 6-10m high. It grows naturally in Nigeria, in DR
Congo, in Ethiopia and throughout East Africa to Zimbabwe. The plant is
momoecious having its male and female in florescence on separate branches.Alchornealaxiflora is called “Opoto”
among the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria. The leaf of the plant is often used in
folk-lore medicine as antimalarial, the stem especially the branches is used in
Nigeria as chewing sticks (Local tooth brush) for cleaning teeth while the
leaves are used to preserve kola nut and other perishable fruits and
vegetables. The leaf extracts has been reported to contain alkaloids,
flavonoids, saponins, steroids and reducing sugars as phytochemicals resident
in the plant.
Ficusexasperata
belongs to the family Moraceae and is commonly called sand paper tree or plant,
widely spread in all eco-regions of Nigeria. The plant has been
ethno-botanically reported to have diverse medicinal uses; the leaf extract is
reported to have diverse medicinal uses such as treating hypertensive patients
(Buniyaminet al., 2007). Coughs and
haemorrhoids (Odunbakuet al., 2008).
The root bark is reported to be used in the treatment of high blood pressure
(Lawalet al., 2009). The leaf is used
to scratch shin parts affected by ringworm while the grounded leaves applied topically
are used to treat boils (Okoliet al.,
2007).
1.1 Aims and Objectives
1. To
determine the antibacterial activity of Ethanol extracts from leaves of Alchornealaxifloraand Ficusexasperata against bacterial
pathogens.
2.
To determine the Minimum
Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) AND Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of
Ethanol extract from leaves of Alchornealaxiflora
and Ficusexasperata.
3. To
carry out the qualitative phytochemical screening of leaves of Alchornealaxiflora and Ficusexasperata for the presences of
Saponin, Flavonoid, Tannin and Trepenoids.
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