Phytochemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Leaves of Alchornea cordifolia (Schum and Thonn), Sanseviera liberica (Gerand Labr) and Uvaria chamae (P. Beauv)

The phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the leaves of Alchornea cordifolia, Sanseviera liberica and Uvaria chamae were investigated. The ethanolic extracts of the leaves of the plants were tested against human pathogens(Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexineri, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia and Candida albicans). The antimicrobial activity of the plants extracts was carried out using the Agar well diffusion method. The phytochemical screening showed that the leaves of the all plant species had flavonoid, tannins and steroids. Alkaloid and phenol were found in A. cordifola and U. chamae, while saponins were observed in S. liberica and U. chamae. Averagely, the percentage phytochemical constituent of the leaves of the plants are as follows; Alkaloid (8.77-10.15), flavonoid (5.33- 6.67), phenols (0.75-1.12), saponin (1.41-5.96), steroid (0.6 -3.33) and tannin (0.001-0.067). The result obtained indicated that the ethanolic extracts of the samples, showed moderate to high activity against all the tested pathogens. The inhibition zone ranged from 7.04 mm to 25.57 mm. The extracts of A. cordifolia had the highest activity on E. coli and least activity on S. aureus, while S. liberica had the highest activity on S. aureus and least on S. typhi. On the other hand, the leaves of U.chamae had the highest activity on E. coli and least on C. albicans. The concentrations of extracts were found to affect the ability of the extracts to inhibit the growth of the pathogens. The higher the concentration of the extracts, the higher the concentration of the extracts, the higher the rate of inhibition of the pathogens. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 3.11 to 18.04mg/ml). The results obtained indicate that the leaves of these plants are good sources of phytochemicals and have antimicrobial activity against the pathogens tested, thus could be exploited as alternative antimicrobial drugs fr treatment of diseases caused by these pathogens.

Author(s): Osuagwu, G. G. E. and Ihenwosu, A. O

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