ABSTRACT
The antimicrobial effect of Alchornea laxiflora on some pathogens was investigated using the disc diffusion method. Ethanol and water were used as solvent for extraction. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, favonoids, saponins, phenol, hydrogen cyanide (HCN). All the test organisms were susceptible at concentration greater than and equal to 100mg/ml with varied zones of inhibition ranging from 3mm to 13mm on the ethanolic extract. Also for the aqueous extract, all the test organisms were susceptible at concentration greater than and equal to 100mg/ml with varied zones of inhibition ranging from 2mm to 11mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ethanol extract are (50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml, 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml) for Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Shigella species and Candida albicans respectively while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the aqueous extract of Alchornea laxiflora are (100mg/ml, 150 mg/ml 100mg/ml and 150mg/ml) for Salmonella spp., E. coli, Shigella species and Candida albicans respectively. The antimicrobial activity showed that microbial growth was inhibited by the ethanol and aqueous extract with the ethanol extract having more significant inhibitory effect. The research work demonstrated that ethanolic and aqueous extract of Alchornea laxiflora has potential for therapeutic uses.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Table of contents v
Lists of Tables vii
Abstract viii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
Introduction 1
1.1
Aims and objectives of the study 2
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature
review 3
2.1 Description
of the plant 3
2.2 Plants
with their medicinal uses 3
2.3 Classification
of phytochemicals 4
2.4 Medicinal
values of Alchornea Laxifora 7
2.5 Biology
and pathogenecity of the test organisms 8
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Materials
and methods 11
3.1 Sample collection. 11
3.2 Sterilization
of materials 12
3.3.0 Preparation of extracts 12
3.3.1 Ethanolic and aqueoues extract
preparation 12
3.3.2 Preparation
of different concentration of extract 13
3.4 Preparation
of paper disc 13
3.5 Media preparation 13
3.6 Determination of antimicrobial activity 14
3.7 Determination of minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC) 15
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Results 16
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Discussion
22
5.1 Conclusion 23
5.2 Recommendation 23
References 24
LIST OF TABLES
Table Title Page
4.1: Antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic
extracts 16
4.2: Antimicrobial
activity of the aqueous extracts 16
4.3: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
test result 17
4.4: Phytochemical analysis results 17
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The
use of plants part as a source of medicine to treat infectious diseases
predates history as a result of which nearly all cultures and civilization from
ancient times to the present day have used herbal medicines to cure infections.
Ethnopharmacological use of plants prevails among most African countries where
plants are used in treating malaria, dysentery, diarrhea, bums, gonorrhea,
stomach disorders and other infectious diseases (Oyayade et al., 1999). Infectious diseases caused
by bacteria, fungi, and viruses are still in increase and they are still the
major threat to public health. Efforts are still ongoing to search for new
biologically active compounds from natural sources as new antimicrobial agent
with a view to discovering new chemical structures which could overcome the
multiple resistances developed by the pathogenic microbes toward available
antimicrobial agents (Ogundipe et
al., 2001).
Medicinal plants have been proved to be effective in the treatment
of infectious diseases with little or no side effects as experienced with
synthetic drugs (Iwu et al., 1999). Plants
synthesize a wide variety of phytochemicals which include alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids,
steroids, saponins, and phenols, which are all useful sources of medicine (Nair
et al., 2005). The biologically
active components of plant extracts and essential oils are used in most of the
pharmaceutical industries because of their antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral
properties.
Alchornea laxifora belongs to Euphorbiaceae family; it is a deciduous shrub and about
6–10 m high. It grows naturally in Nigeria, in DR Congo, in Ethiopia, and throughout
East Africa to Zimbabwe (Burkill, 1994). The plant is monoecious having its
male and female in florescences on separate branches. Alchornea laxifora is called “Opoto” among the Yoruba tribe, “Ububo” among the Igbo
tribe, “Uwenuwen” among the Edo tribe, “Urievwu” among the Edo tribe in
Nigeria. The leaf infusion of the plant is often used in folklore medicine as
antimalarial (Adeloye et al., 2005). 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. Decoction of the leaves is usually administered to treat
inflammatory and infectious diseases (Ogundipe et al., (2001). Oladunmoye and Kehinde
reported the use of A. laxifora among the Yoruba tribe of Southwestern Nigeria for the treatment
of poliomyelitis and measles. Other authors (Oloyede et al., (2010),
reported the antioxidant properties of the leaf extract of A. laxifora in addition to its antimicrobial effects on four bacteria which
are Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Farombi et
al., (2003) also
reported the antioxidant properties of A. laxifora leaves and roots. The results obtained from their investigation
indicate the presence of potent natural antioxidant which may be relevant in
preservation of lipid food products. Antitoxicity, anticonvulsant, and sedative
effects of the leaf extract of A. laxifora in animal models have also been reported Esosa
et al., (2013).
1.1 AIMS AND
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The aim and objectives of this study is to evaluate the
antimicrobial activity of Alchornea
laxiflora on selected pathogenic microorganisms.
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