PRELIMINARY ANTIBACTERIAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF THREE MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN THE FOLKLORIC TREATMENT OF SKIN INFECTION

Abstract

The in vitro effects of Schwenkia americana , Mormodica charantia and Lippia multiflora extract in water, ethanol and ethyl acetate were evaluated on some pathogenic bacteria namely Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and β - heamolytic Streptococcus pyogenes . The work was carried out using the agar well diffusion method at concentrations ranging from 25 mg/ml to 100mg/ml of extracts. The ethanol ext ract of Schwenkia americana and Lippia multiflora showed zones of inhibition of 24+ 1.19 cfu against Staphylococcus aureus , at 100mg/ml stock concentration. The aqueous extract of Lippia multiflora showed a zone of inhibition of 22+0.60 cfu at 100mg/ml agains t Staphylococcus aureus while the ethyl acetate extract of Schwenkia americana showed highest zone of inhibition of 24+1.19 cfu at 100mg/ml of extract against Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcu s pyogenes was the least active of all the organisms to the tes t plants with Lippia multiflora showing a zone of inhibition of 10cm at 100mg/ml. Generally all the test plants are active against the organisms. Phytochemical screening revealed that the plants contain flavonoids, tannins, alkaloid, saponin, and steroids. In all the test plants, Positive antibiotic dis k control and antiseptic test showed the microorganisms to be resistant to most of the antibiotic disk as well as the antiseptics used at con centrations ranging between 5% - 20% of dettol, izal, ethanol and Lys ol. The plants showing antimicrobial activities can be inculcated into the treatment of bacterial infections involving the test organisms to help fight the ever increasing antibiotic resistance.