PHYTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND BIOTHERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF Thaumatococcus danielli Benn. ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT

Abstract

The biotherapeutic potential and phytochemical properties of ethanolic leaf extract ofThaumatococcus danielli were determined in this study. Antibacterial sensitivity bioassaywas performed using the agar-well diffusion method. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichiacoli, Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus pyogenes were used as test organisms. Resultsrevealed varying antibacterial activity, with the extract having broad spectrum of activity andbeing more effective against the Gram-negative bacteria than the Gram-positive bacteria.Concentration of 100 mg/ml was most effective against the organisms, with E. coli. (27.000.66 mm) being the most susceptible. B. subtilis (12.66 0.57 mm), was the leastsusceptible. The antibacterial activity was shown to be concentration-dependent. Theminimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 12.50 mg/ml to 25.00 mg/ml while theminimum bacteriocidal concentration (MBC) ranged from 25.00 mg/ml to 50.00 mg/ml. Itwas also observed that B. subtilis had the highest MIC (25.00 mg/ml) and MBC (50.00mg/ml). Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that the test bacteria used in this researchwere multi-drug resistant. Comparatively, the extract was more potent than the standardantibiotics against the Gram-negative bacteria than the Gram-positive bacteria.Phytochemical screening showed the presence saponins, tannins, alkaloids, andflavonoids, which have antimicrobial properties. It is possible therefore, to use the ethanolicleaf extract of T. danielli in the management of infections caused by the test bacteria.