PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OFVERNONIA AMYGDALINA(BITTER LEAF).

Abstract

ABSTRACT Vernoniaamygdalinais an important medicinal plant. It is commonly called bitter leaf (because of its bitter taste), it is consumed either as a vegetable for cooking African soups or the aqueous extracts could be drank as tonics for the treatment of various illnesses(Imaga and Bamigbetan, 2003). The present study deals with the analysis of Phytochemical constituents by qualitative and quantitative analysis of Vernoniaamygdalina,the phytochemical analysis was done using aqueous extract of the plant. The results showed that the leaf extract of the plant possessed the biologically active substances; cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, saponin glycosides, anthraquinones, balsam, volatile oil and tannins. The presence of these bioactive constituents has been linked to the antibacterial activity of the plant.Quantitative analysis was also conducted to determine the amount of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and glycosidesand the concentration were found out to be 7.53±0.12, 3.17±0.06, 2.10±0.05, 3.83±0.06 and 2.29±0.06 respectively. The well diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli,Salmonella sp and shigella sp. Aqueous extract of the leaves showed antibacterial activity against all the tested bacteria in the order of sensitivity as Shigellasp>Salmonella sp>Escherichia coli. The MIC was determined using serial dilution method and the concentration was found out to be 12.5, 9.55 and 6.25 for E. coli, salmonella sp and shigellasp respectively. The leaves of Vernoniaamygdalina can be used as a source of oral drugs to fight infections caused by susceptible bacteria.In cases where possible, the aqueous extracts of these plants should be used at a concentration up to 100 – 120g /ml so as to give a better treatment margin.

ABSTRACT Vernoniaamygdalinais an important medicinal plant. It is commonly called bitter leaf (because of its bitter taste), it is consumed either as a vegetable for cooking African soups or the aqueous extracts could be drank as tonics for the treatment of various illnesses(Imaga and Bamigbetan, 2003). The present study deals with the analysis of Phytochemical constituents by qualitative and quantitative analysis of Vernoniaamygdalina,the phytochemical analysis was done using aqueous extract of the plant. The results showed that the leaf extract of the plant possessed the biologically active substances; cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, saponin glycosides, anthraquinones, balsam, volatile oil and tannins. The presence of these bioactive constituents has been linked to the antibacterial activity of the plant.Quantitative analysis was also conducted to determine the amount of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and glycosidesand the concentration were found out to be 7.53±0.12, 3.17±0.06, 2.10±0.05, 3.83±0.06 and 2.29±0.06 respectively. The well diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli,Salmonella sp and shigella sp. Aqueous extract of the leaves showed antibacterial activity against all the tested bacteria in the order of sensitivity as Shigellasp>Salmonella sp>Escherichia coli. The MIC was determined using serial dilution method and the concentration was found out to be 12.5, 9.55 and 6.25 for E. coli, salmonella sp and shigellasp respectively. The leaves of Vernoniaamygdalina can be used as a source of oral drugs to fight infections caused by susceptible bacteria.In cases where possible, the aqueous extracts of these plants should be used at a concentration up to 100 – 120g /ml so as to give a better treatment margin.

ABSTRACT Vernoniaamygdalinais an important medicinal plant. It is commonly called bitter leaf (because of its bitter taste), it is consumed either as a vegetable for cooking African soups or the aqueous extracts could be drank as tonics for the treatment of various illnesses(Imaga and Bamigbetan, 2003). The present study deals with the analysis of Phytochemical constituents by qualitative and quantitative analysis of Vernoniaamygdalina,the phytochemical analysis was done using aqueous extract of the plant. The results showed that the leaf extract of the plant possessed the biologically active substances; cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, saponin glycosides, anthraquinones, balsam, volatile oil and tannins. The presence of these bioactive constituents has been linked to the antibacterial activity of the plant.Quantitative analysis was also conducted to determine the amount of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and glycosidesand the concentration were found out to be 7.53±0.12, 3.17±0.06, 2.10±0.05, 3.83±0.06 and 2.29±0.06 respectively. The well diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli,Salmonella sp and shigella sp. Aqueous extract of the leaves showed antibacterial activity against all the tested bacteria in the order of sensitivity as Shigellasp>Salmonella sp>Escherichia coli. The MIC was determined using serial dilution method and the concentration was found out to be 12.5, 9.55 and 6.25 for E. coli, salmonella sp and shigellasp respectively. The leaves of Vernoniaamygdalina can be used as a source of oral drugs to fight infections caused by susceptible bacteria.In cases where possible, the aqueous extracts of these plants should be used at a concentration up to 100 – 120g /ml so as to give a better treatment margin.