Preliminary Studies on the Phytochemical and Pharmacological Screening of Alchornea Cordifolia

Abstract

The study was to evaluate the classes of chemical compounds present, antifungal, antibacterial and effect on Plasmodium species by Alchornea cordifolia leaves extract used by local medicine practitioners for the treatment of malarial fever. The extract indicated the presence of alkaloids, saponins, unsaturated and carbonyl compounds. They exhibited activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium notatum and Plasmodium spp. There was bulging of the  plasmodial cells after 48h and total lyses after 72h incubation for the ethanol and water extracts while the ether extract showed no antiplasmodial activity. The study justifies the use of the plant for treatment of malarial fever.