Abstract
Phytochemical compounds are secondary metabolites of plants useful as antimicrobial agents. Botanicals are being explored for bioactive compounds with antimicrobial properties against phytopathogens. Little information is available on the phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena diversifolia and Sesbania sesban against Cercospora zeae-maydis and Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum. The aim of the study was to determine the phytochemical and antimicrobial properties of leaf extracts of C. calothyrsus, L. diversifolia and S. sesban against C. zeae-maydis and Xc. pv. musacearum. Dried leaves were extracted in methanol and aqueous solvents and screened for phytochemical and antimicrobial activity using Kirby-Bauer’s disk diffusion and poisoned food technique methods. Sesbania sesban extracts contained all the phytochemical tested; tannins, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids, Leucaena diversifolia lacked alkaloids while Calliandra calothyrsus lacked steroids and alkaloids. The extracts were active against Cercospora zeae-maydis and Xc.pv. musacearum with Sesbania sesban having greater radial inhibition activity. There was no significant difference in the antimicrobial activity between the lowest concentrations (25% and 25mg/ml) and highest concentrations (75% and 75mg/ml) in all the three plant extracts. Growth inhibition observed could be as a result of the different chemical compound observed in the extracts. Presence of alkaloids in Sesbania sesban could explain the greater growth inhibition of the pathogens under study. The results form the basis for further research that could lead to isolation and development of antimicrobial agents. Therefore, these plants can be used as an alternative to synthetic chemicals to control Cercospora zeae-maydis and Xanthomonas campestris pv. Musacearum.
Highlights
Plants have been a source of novel metabolites useful in therapeutics and antimicrobial since invent of traditional medicine (Araya-Contreras and Bittner, 2019; Alemu et al, 2017)
This study aimed at isolating, identifying and evaluating the antimicrobial properties of the compounds from the leaf extracts of S. sesban, C. calothyrsus and L. diversifolia
The study found a variation in the concentration of phytochemical compounds in the leaf extracts of three plant species even though the plants were from the same ecological zone
Summary
Plants have been a source of novel metabolites useful in therapeutics and antimicrobial since invent of traditional medicine (Araya-Contreras and Bittner, 2019; Alemu et al, 2017). Considering the fact that most plants if not all have biologically active compounds against pathogens (Salhi et al, 2017; Mahlo et al, 2016), it is necessary to screen Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena diversifolia and Sesbania sesban for phytochemical and antimicrobial properties. Sesbania sesban (L.) Merrill is a multipurpose tree that is widely distributed in tropics and subtropics of Africa and Asia and usually planted by smallholder farmers mostly for its fodder and soil improvement values (Nigussie and Alemayehu, 2014; Mythili and Ravindhran, 2012) It is used as a source of green manure, anti-inflammatory activities, reproduction and milk production enhancement, nitrogen fixation, bioenergy source, antibacterial and anti-parasitic effect, antioxidant and mosquito repellant effects (Nigussie and Alemayehu, 2013; Degefu et al, 2011). This study aimed at identifying the phytochemical constituents and evaluating the antimicrobial properties of C. calothyrsus, L. diversifolia and S. sesban leaf extracts
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
