Antimicrobial Activity and Phytochemical Analysis of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of the Bark of <i>Tabernaemontena pachysiphon</i> Stapf

Abstract

Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activities of hot water, hot and cold ethanol ethanolic extracts of the bark of Tabernaemontana pachysiphon Stapf. were assayed, using standard techniques. Escherichia coli (E. coli), Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Alternaria solani (A. solani), Aspergillius niger (A. niger) and Penicilium notatum (P. notatum) were used as the challenge / test organism. Agar well and paper disc diffusion techniques were adopted. Results showed that the bacteria; E. coli, S. marcescens, S. aureus, were susceptible to both hot water and hot ethanol extracts respectively with zones of inhibition as follows: E. coli (9, 12 mm) and (10, 15 mm), S. marcescen (9, 9 mm) and (9, 12 mm), S. aureus (8, 9mm) and (9, 10mm), respectively. The fungus; P notatum was susceptible to hot water, hot and cold ethanol extracts (7.5, 8, 8mm) and (7, 7.5, 7 mm). A. solani and A. niger were resistant to the bioactivity of the extracts. The presence of active principles; alkaloids, anthraquinone, cardiac glycosides, poly phenol, saponins and tannins detected via the phytochemical screening may be responsible for the antimicrobial activities of the extracts.