Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Activity of Spondias mombin Leaves
Ahamefula Anslem Ahuchaogu *
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
A. I. Obike
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
Chisom Sampson Egedeuzu
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
P. O. Ukaogo
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
Okoronkwo Joseph Chukwu
Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Phytochemical investigation was carried out on the crude ethanol extracts of the leaves of Spondias mombin. The antibacterial activity of the ethanolic and the Chloroform leaf extract was tested against four bacteria; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi using disc diffusion method. The results indicated that both extracts showed inhibitory activity against clinical isolates of the gram negative bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli as well as gram positive bacteria S. aureus. These also revealed that chloroform extract was more potent than the ethanol extract. Phytochemical constituents present in the extract were found to include Alkaloids (5.97±0.03%), Flavonoids (3.00±0.01%), Tanins (3.80±0.02%), Saponins (7.50±0.1%), and Phenols (0.9±0.04%).
Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, zone of inhibition, Spondias mombin, secondary metabolites, extracts