Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of <i>Parkia biglobosa</i> and <i>Parkia bicolor</i> leaf extracts

Abstract

The comparative studies of different extracts of the leaves of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) Benth and Parkia bicolor A. Chev (Mimosaceae) with respect to their photochemical and antimicrobial properties was carried out. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed that both plants had similar constituents namely cardiac glycosides, steroids, tannins and alkaloids. The thin layer chromatography of the hexane and ethanol extracts of both plants were also investigated and two of the components of the ethanol extracts of both plants were found to display similar properties. The antimicrobial screening of the hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water extracts of both plant leaves were done using standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Esherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger and Candida utilis. The ethyl acetate, ethanol and water extracts exhibited a concentration dependent antibacterial, inhibiting the growth of the gram-positive bacteria used in the study. Extracts of P. bicolor were slightly more active than those of P. biglobosa.