Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial properties of ethanolic extract of <i>Nymphaea lotus</i> L. stem

Abstract

Medicinal properties of Nymphaea lotus L. may be attributed to the phytochemical constituents. As such the study was aimed to determine the phytochemical constituents and the antimicrobial properties of Nymphaea lotus stem extract. In this study, the powdered stem of Nymphaea lotus was subjected to maceration (extraction) using ethanol (90%, v/v). After extraction 2.2 grams of the crude extract was obtained, which is oily and sticky in texture and brownish green in color. The phytochemical screening of the extract was carried out using standard methods with some minor modifications. The result for phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, terpenoids, phenolic, saponins, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids and anthraquinone which all may accounted to its medicinal properties. The antimicrobial activity test was evaluated qualitative through agar disc diffusion method using the following microbial isolate: Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aureginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. The results showed that Salmonella typhi and Enterococcus faecalis were highly susceptible to Nymphaea lotus stem extract with highest zone of inhibition 17 and 14 mm respectively. While Pseudomonas aureginosa were moderately susceptible to Nymphaea lotus stem extract with the highest zone of inhibition 13 mm. However, the extract showed no activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Nevertheless, the result showed that the stem of Nymphaea lotus can be a promising source of naturally occurring antibiotics and hence justify the claim made by traditional medicine practitioners.