Abstract
The plant, <i>Waltherica indica Linn</i> is known to possess medicinal properties according to African folklore. Scientific verification of its bioactive constituents backing its use for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections is limited. This study aimed at evaluating the phytochemical compounds present in the crude leaf extracts as well as identify their pathogen-specific antagonistic activities. The results obtained revealed that alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, phenolic acids, saponins, steroids, tannins and terpenoids were present in the extracts. The results also revealed that the zones of inhibition from the acidic, basic, neutral polar and non-polar fractions ranged between 24-28mm against the organisms <i> (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Streptococcus pyrogens, Klebsciella pneumonia, and Candida krusei)</i>. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MICs) of the crude, acidic, basic, neutral polar and non-polar fractions of the leaf was recorded at 2.5mg/ml and 0.5mg/ml respectively. The results obtained suggested that the leaf of the studied plant possess strong antimicrobial activities against selected bacterial and fungal species with direct correlation to the actions of their phyto-constituents.
Highlights
The 21st century has witnessed a new dawn of Research and Development with regards to medical science and preventive medicine, the world, developing nations, is still plagued by a blitz of infectious diseases
The data revealed that Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Klebsiella pneumonia, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis were all susceptible to the antagonistic effects of the crude leaf extracts towards microbial growth
Analysis of the phytochemical extracts using the bio-assay guided protocol on the leaves of Waltheria indica Linn, displayed the respective inhibitory activities of the acidic, basic, polar neutral and non-polar neutral phyto-compounds against the selected clinical isolates of bacteria and fungi in comparison to the effects of Ciprofloxacin and Fluconazole used as controls (Table 3)
Summary
The 21st century has witnessed a new dawn of Research and Development with regards to medical science and preventive medicine, the world, developing nations, is still plagued by a blitz of infectious diseases This occurrence stems from both the emergence and re-emergence of drug resistant pathogens, which thwart the efficacy of regular antimicrobial treatment options. The aggravated onslaught by new breeds of drug resistant infectious organisms in conjunction with a waning assortment of therapeutic agents, has created a plethora of side-effects, invasion by other opportunistic infections that trigger ailments like upper respiratory tract infections [4] The scourge of such events is eminent amongst the rural populace in developing countries [5], [6]. The consequence of this includes prolonged symptoms coupled with the inability for conventional over-the-counter drugs to block the extra-/intracellular binding domains for pathogen host interaction [7]
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