Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of Crude Stem Bark Extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus

Aims: This study was aimed at screening of phytochemicals and evaluation of antimicrobial activity of stem bark of Anogeissus leiocarpus

Study Design: Stem bark of Anogeissus leiocapus was extracted using solvent extraction method; with ethanol, n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and water soluble extracts. Each extract was screened for phytochemicals and tested for sensitivity against E. coli and Shigella dysenteriae.

Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out at the department of Chemistry, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. The duration of the study is 6 months, 2 weeks.

Methodology: The stem bark of the plant was dried, ground, sieved and stored at room temperature. The sieved powder (200 g) of Anogeissus leiocarpus was percolated with 95% Ethanol (1 l). Maceration was conducted using ethanol, n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and water soluble extracts. Each extract was screened for phytochemicals and tested for sensitivity against E. coli and Shigella dysenteriae.

Results: Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloid, tannins, flavonoids, steroids and sugars while antimicrobial activity test at various concentration showed that all the extracts had antimicrobial activity against E. coli (causative of diarrhea) and Shigella dysenteriae (causative of dysentery) at different concentrations with the exception of ethyl acetate soluble extract which showed no antimicrobial activity against E. coli.

Conclusion: Thus, the plant can be a potential source of bioactive compounds to be considered in the management of infectious diseases, notably diarrhea and dysentery.