Evaluation of the hepato-protective and anti-bacterial activities of ethanol extract of <i>Picralima nitida</i> seed and pod

Abstract

Picralima nitida seed and pod extracts and fractions were screened for antimicrobial activity, using Agar-well diffusion assay and hepatoprotective activity against CCl₄ induced hepato-toxicity in albino rats. Proximate, phytochemical and HPLC analyses were carried out to ascertain the constituents of Picralima nitida seed and pod. The result of the antimicrobial screening showed that at 400 mg/ml of extract, the test organisms were sensitive (IZD) to the seed and pod extracts with S. aureus (21 and 18 mm) and B. subtilis (16 and 16 mm) respectively. The test organisms were also sensitive (IZD) to ethyl acetate fraction of the seed extract, at 50 mg/ml, with B. subtilis (19 mm), E. coli (22 mm), P. aeruginosa (21mm) respectively. The extracts of the seed and pod; and the ethyl acetate fraction of the seed extract produced a significant (p ≤ 0.001) reduction in liver enzymes. The proximate analysis of seed and pod respectively, indicated moisture content (1.2% and3.8%), total ash (4% and 5%), acid insoluble ash (1% and 1%), water soluble extractive value (2.8% and 3.8%) and crude fibre (3.6% and 5.2%). The phyto-evaluation of the seed and pod extracts showed respectively, tannin (0.42% and 0.33%), alkaloid (6% and 7.6%), saponin (9.8% and 9.5%) and flavonoid (10.2% and 1.2%).The HPLC analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction of the seed extract and the pod crude extract revealed phyto-compounds with reported antibacterial and hepatoprotective activities. This study showed that P. nitida seed and pod extracts exhibited antibacterial and hepatoprotective activities; confirming its ethnomedicinal use for treating infections and liver problems.

Keywords: P. nitida, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, phyto-constituents, anti-proliferative