Phytochemical Screening and In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of the Root Extracts of Ampelocissus grantii (Baker) Blanch. (Vitaceae)

Abstract

The medicinal plant Ampelocissus grantii is frequently used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of illnesses, including bacterial, parasite, and fungal infections. This study was created to look into the antibacterial properties and do a preliminary phytochemical screening of extracts from A. grantii roots. The root sample of A. grantii was ground into powder and extracted successively by maceration using n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. The antimicrobial profile of various concentrations (200mm/ml, 100 mm/ml, 50 mm/ml and 25 mm/ml) of the extracts was examined against clinical isolates of bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) and fungi (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans) using standard procedures. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts was conducted to test for the presence of steroid/triterpenes, alkaloids tannins, flavonoids, saponins and proteins. The highest antimicrobial activity was observed in methanol extract, followed by ethyl acetate extract with E. coli and A. niger being the most susceptible. The result also showed that the activity of all the extracts is concentration dependent, with the highest value of the zone of inhibition observed at 200 mm/ml. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroid/triterpenes, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and proteins. However, alkaloids were not detected in any of the extracts. The antimicrobial activity may be due to the presence of these phytochemicals. Therefore, A. grantii can be used to source new drugs for the treatment of various microbial infections.