Phytochemical, Nutritional and Antimicrobial Screening of Hexane, Ethyl Acetate and Ethanolic Extracts of Boswellia Dalzielii Leaves and Bark

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the medicinal values of Boswellia dalzielii plant by carrying out the proximate analysis, antimicrobial screening and phytochemical constituents of hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts of the leaves and bark of the plant. Standard methods were used for the proximate and phytochemical screenings. Well diffusion method was applied for the antimicrobial screening of the extracts. The proximate analysis of the leaves shows; moisture 12.24%, ash 7.43%, crude fibre 32.85%, crude lipids 20.41%, crude protein 1.00% and carbohydrate 26.07% and that of the bark shows; moisture 8.51%, ash 14.23%, crude fibre 42.86%, crude lipid 14.23%, crude protein 0.40% and carbohydrate 19.56%.The phytochemical screening of the leaves indicated the presence of tannins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and balsams while that of the bark indicated the presence of steroids, glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and saponins. The antimicrobial screening of the leaves and bark extracts shows that they were active against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.