Assessment of antimicrobial activity of <I>Cola milleni</I> seed and pulp extracts against <I>Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Penicillium notatum</I>

Abstract

All over the world, hundreds of plants have been identified based on researchers and experimental evidence as good sources of medicinal agents. The bioactive components (phytochemicals) of both the seeds and pulp of Cola milleni were extracted using ethanol as solvent. The bioactive components detected were alkaloids, tanins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates, sterols, resins and terpenes while Flavonoids, anthraquinones, anthracyanides and phenol were not detected for both the seed and pulps. Antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract (Seed and pulp) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Penicillium notatum was carried out using standard techniques. Staphylococcus aureus had the highest zone of inhibition for pulp having a range of 9.7mm±0.58mm - 19.7mm±2.52mm while Penicllium notatum had the least with 0.00mm. S.aureus also had the highest zone of inhibition range of 14.3mm±2.08mm - 21.3mm±1.53mm for the seed extract while penicillium had the least inhibition range of 5.0mm±1.00mm - 5.7mm±0.58. E.coli showed the highest minimum inhibitory concentration with ethanol extract of the pulp (160mg/ml) while penicillium notatum was not reactive. The minimum inhibitory concentration of seed against penillium notatum was the highest (160mg/ml) while staphylococcus aureus showed the lowest of 40mg/ml. The antimicrobial activity is as a result of the presence of phytochemicals detected, which suggest the use of the plant for the treatment of diseases caused by these organisms.

Key words: Cola millenii, Phytochemical, Antimicrobial activity, Bacteria, Fungi