Comparative Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Analyses of Leaves of Pterocarpus mildbraedii Harms and Xylopia aethiopica (Dual) A. Rich

Abstract

Aim:  To compare the phytochemicals and antimicrobial activities of Pterocarpus mildbraedii Harms and Xylopia aethiopica(Dual) A.Rich Methodology: The leaves of P. mildbraedii and X. aethiopica were collected, washed, air-dried, ground and each extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. The extracts were analysed for the presence of phytochemicals. Antimicrobial analyses were also carried out on the extracts. Results: Alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, phenols and resins were found in all the extracts of both plants. As the polarity of the solvents used increased, the abundance of saponins, tannins and phenols increased in both plants. Also the abundance of steroids decreased as the polarity of solvents used increased in both plants.  Saponins, tannins and phenols were found to have high percentage composition in P. mildbraedii while alkaloids and flavonoids were very high in X. aethiopica. Generally extracts of X. aethiopica showed more activity against the bacteria than the P. mildbraedii. S. aureus was only susceptible to ethyl acetate leaf extract of X.aethiopica. The ethyl acetate extract of both plants showed inhibition to the growth of E. coli. N-hexane extract of X. aethiopica  was the only extract which showed against the one of two fungi used. Conclusion: The two plants contained many metabolites which have been attributed to the antimicrobial activities exhibited by the two plants. These metabolites should be isolated and the subsequent development of the metabolites in formulation of drugs.