Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of the petroleum ether, methanol and ethanol extracts of Ceiba pentandra stem bark

Abstract

Ceiba pentandra stem bark has been used in traditional medicine as an important and highly efficacious herbal remedy and has been recommended as a potential source of antimicrobial agent as well as a possible anti-inflammatory agent. Three extracts of the plant obtained using petroleum ether, ethanol, and methanol as solvents were used. Phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts showed important bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, steroids, alkaloids, and glycosides. The different extracts showed varying concentrations of the phytochemicals with methanol and ethanol possessing almost the same concentration of phytochemicals. The petroleum ether extract had only high concentration of the lipid derivatives. Antimicrobial study of the extracts at fairly high doses showed activity against test microorganisms. The methanol extract showed activity against all test isolates with highest activity against the fungi, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. It also had a higher activity on the Gram positive bacteria as compared to Gram negative bacteria. The ethanol extract had a higher activity on Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis and minimal activity on the fungi. The petroleum ether extract showed activity only on E. coli and B. subtilis.