Abstract
The research study was to understudy the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical compounds and antifungal activity of methanolic extracts of Jatropha multifida, Euphorbia hirta, Occimum gratissimum and Mitracarpus scaber leaves against 12 species of fungi. The 8 phytochemical compounds tested were saponin, phenol, tannin, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoid, alkaloid and glycoside. The antifungi sensitivity test was analysed by Kirby-bauer disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was analysed by broth tube dilution method followed by subculturing the relative samples. The plant extracts were prepared in the concentration range of 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50,100 and 200 mg/ml. The antifungal sensitivity test showed that Jatropha multifida (200mg/ml) was weakly effective against Fusarium solani and resistant against others. Occimum gratissimum, Euphorbia hirta and Mitracarpus scaber at (200mg/ml) respectively was highly effective on most of the fungi species tested with zone of inhibition of 10-20mm. Jatropha multifida had MIC and MFC (>200mg/ml), Occimum gratissimum had MIC and MFC (100 and >100mg/ml), Euphorbia hirta (25-200 and 50 - >200mg/ml) and Mitracarpus scaber had (25 - 100 and 50-200mg/ml) on most test isolates respectively. Investigations showed, Mitracarpus scaber were highly effective, followed by Euphorbia hirta, Occimum gratissimum and Jatropha multifida on the test organisms and could be attributed to the presence of phytochemical compounds and as such can be harnessed and used as a source of alternative medicine especially in the tropics like the South-eastern Nigeria.
Highlights
The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases are of immense importance in the health of people
The research study was to understudy the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical compounds and antifungal activity of methanolic extracts of Jatropha multifida, Euphorbia hirta, Occimum gratissimum and Mitracarpus scaber leaves against 12 species of fungi
Collection and identification of plant materials Fresh leaves of Mitracarpus scaber, Jatropha multifida, Occimum gratissimum and Euphorbia hirta plants were collected from the Federal research institute Ibadan Nigeria.They were identified and authenticated at the department of Botany Igbenedion University Okada, Edo State by a taxonomist
Summary
The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases are of immense importance in the health of people. Herbs derived from different parts (leaves, roots, seeds, berries, bark or flowers) of plant extracts have gone a long way in treating a wide range of clinical diseases [2]. These plant parts possess certain chemicals known as primary and secondary metabolites.The primary metabolites includes amino acids, sugar, purines and primidines while the secondary metabolites incudes alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, terpenoids. About three quarter of the world today relie on plants and their extracts for their healthcare [4].These extracts are known as a potentially source for the development of chemotherapeutic agents [5]
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