Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Studies of the Aerial Part of Aeschynomene uniflora Mey

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activities of extracts of aerial part of Aeschynomene uniflora Mey used in folklore medicine in order to scientifically validate some of its ethnomedicinal claims. The dried and pulverized aerial part of Aeschynomene uniflora was extracted using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol by Soxhlet extraction and each concentrated in vacuo to yield four extracts. The extracts were then subject to preliminary phytochemical screening and antimicrobial studies using standard method. Carbohydrates, cardiac glycoside, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, triterpenes and tannins were present in the crude extracts. The highest zone of inhibition of 25 mm was exhibited by the ethyl acetated extract against Staphylococcus aureus, while the petroleum ether extract show the lowest zone of inhibition of 16 mm against Streptococcus pyogenes. The chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 7 mg/mL against, Bacillus subtilis and Candida stellatoidea respectively. Both the methanol and petroleum ether extracts had a MIC of 30 mg/mL against Candida stellatoidea. The minimum bactericidal/ fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) of the extracts ranged between 15 mg/mL to 60 mg/mL. In conclusion, the aerial parts of Aeschynomene uniflora showed significant antimicrobial properties. This justifies the use of the in the treatment of human and animal infectious disease.