Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of the Bark Extracts of <i>Voacanga africana Stapf</i>

Abstract

Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity hot water, hot and cold ethanolic extracts of the bark of Vocanga Africana stapt. on Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescen, Staphyloccus aureus, Alternaria solani , Aspergellius niger and Penicillium notatum were investigated using paper disc diffusion technique. Results showed that the bacteria Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus were susceptible to hot ethanol extract, E.coli and Serretia marcescen were susceptible to hot water extract, S. aureus was not. Pencillium notatum was susceptible to hot water, hot and cold ethanol extracts, A.niger was susceptible to only the ethanol extract; while Alternaria solani was resistant to the bioactivity of the extract. The presence of active principles, Alkaloids, Anthranoid, cardiac glycosides, Polyphenol, saponin and starch, detected in the phytochemical analysis might be responsible for the antimicrobial activity of the extract.

Key Words: Phytochemical, antimicrobial, susceptibility, Vocanga