Antibacterial activity and screening for phytochemical components from <i>Borreria stachydea</i> [(DC) Hutch. & Dalziel]

Abstract

The aim of this present study was to determine the phytochemicals and antibacterial activity of Borreria stachydea whole plant using chloroform and methanol as the extracting solvents. The powdered sample was subjected into soxhlet extraction by hot continuous percolation. The extracts were concentrated at 40^oC by vacuum evaporation and later exposed to air drying to give dried crude extracts. Phytochemical screening of the extracts was performed using standard procedures available in literature. Antibacterial activity of B. stachydea was determined using agar well diffusion method, while the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the extracts against bacteria were determined by broth dilution technique. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, terpenes and steroids. Both extracts were active against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis. Comparatively, methanolic extract contained more phytochemicals but lower values of zones of inhibition than chloroform extract. At a concentration of 10 mg/ml, both methanolic extract and sparfloxacin (a standard antibiotic) used as control in this study exhibited similar antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis. The results of this investigation revealed that Borreria stachydea contains phytochemicals that are potential sources of antibacterial agents.

Keywords: Borreria stachydea, Extract, Phytochemical, Antibacterial, MIC, MBC