Short Communication: Studies of antimicrobial activity and chemical constituents of <i>Ximenia americana</i>

Abstract

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the relative efficacy of various brands Ximenia americana is a plant that is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria, leproutic ulcers and skin infections of mixed origin in Northern parts of Nigeria. To evaluate the scientific basis for the use of the plant, the antimicrobial activities of extract of the leaves were evaluated against six common bacterial isolates. Chemical constituents of the extract were also determined. The extract of was active against the test organisms including Escherischia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, anthrax-quinones, starch, general glycosides and bitter principles were found to be present in the extract.

Ximenia americana: Chemistry, Pharmacology and Biological Properties, a Review

“…Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli were not affected by these extracts. The (James et al, 2007& Ogunleye et al, 2003; few extracts showed also the presence of cyanogenetic glycosides (Ogunleye et al, 2003). Quinones are of the anthraquinone type; terpenes are sesquiterpenes and triterpenes type (Araújo et al, 2008(Araújo et al, , 2009 The methanolic extract was the most active one.…”

“…The results of phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins and cyanogenetic glycosides. Alkaloids and anthraquinones were not present (Ogunleye et al, 2003). The root, stem bark and leaves aqueous and methanolic extracts of X. americana were tested against five bacteria and they inhibited the growth of Staphylococus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae while Shigella flexineri was inhibited by only methanolic leaves, aqueous bark and aqueous leaves extracts.…”

“…The antimicrobial activity of the extracts of the various parts of the investigated plants such as roots, leaves, seeds, stem barks and fruits, appears to be due to the presence of secondary metabolites such polyphenols, triterpenes, sterols, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides and polysaccharides (Geyid et al, 2005;James et al, 2007;Maikai et al,2009;Ogunleye et al, 2003).…”

“…americana is a plant used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria, leproutic ulcers and infectious diseases of mixed origin by natives in Ethiopia, Guinea, Sudan and in the Northern part of Nigeria (Geyid et al, 2005;James et al, 2007;Magassouba et al, 2007;Maikai et al, 2009;Ogunleye et al, 2003;Omer & Elnima, 2003).…”

Evaluation of in-vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Ximenia americana, Hopea ponga and Vitex leucoxylon

“…15 Hopea ponga is an endemic tree belonging to Dipterocapaceae family found in tropical ever green forest of western India and it is widely distributed along the Western Ghat of Karnataka. cies under the International Union for Conversation of Nature Red List of threatened species.…”