Abstract
Background: Both Solanum lycopersicum and S. Pimpinellifolium possess much nutritional and therapeutic usefulness. Aim: This study is aimed at investigating the phytochemical, chemical and antimicrobial contents of foliar extracts of both plants. Methodology: The analyses were carried out using standard methods; the organic contents of the extracts were determined by GC-MS before the extracts were tested for antibacterial and antifungal potentials using the disc diffusion method. Results: The biochemical analysis revealed the presence of crude fibre, crude fat, crude carbohydrate, moisture content, total ash, dry matter and crude protein. Various mineral elements such as Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron and Phosphorus were detected in the extracts, even as GC-MS revealed 6 different organic compounds belonging to two groups of chemicals (ester and alkanol). The methanolic extract of both plants showed significant antibacterial and antifungal activities on some of the test organisms at a dose range of 5 and 25mg/ml. Cardiac glycosides was observed to be the highest constituent of the phytochemicals detected and it has been reported to inhibit sodium and potassium pump which in turn cause an increase in the amount of calcium ions and are thus useful in the treatment of heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia. Conclusion: This study concluded that the leaf extracts of both plants investigated are highly nutritive, containing appreciable amounts of nutrients which are required in human and animal diet. Recommendation: An advocacy for a higher consumption of these tomatoes as well as their use in the formulation of antimicrobial agents and drugs is highly recommended.
Published Version
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