Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of guiera senegalensis leaf extracts

Abstract

Aqueous (cold and hot) and methanolic extracts of the leaves of Guiera
senegalensis were made and their efficacy studied in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pyogenes. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacteriocidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts was determined using standard methods. Results obtained showed that all extracts inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli at all concentrations, while Streptococcus pyogenes was only inhibited at 250 and 200 mg/ml concentration on some of the extracts. The MICs of the different extracts ranges from 40 to 200 mg/ml, while the MBC gave a range of 20 to 200 mg/ml but varies from one isolate to the other. Phytochemical screening of the powdered form of the leaves of Guiera Senegalensis showed it to contain resins, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides and terpenes. This study shows that the leaf of Guiera Senegalensis possess antibacterial property.

Keywords: Guiera senegalensis, leaves, medicinal plant, antibacterial property