ANTIBACTERIAL SCREENING OF ALCHORNEALAXIFLORA AND FICUSEXASPERATA EXTRACTS AGAINST BACTERIAL PATHOGENS

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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