In vitro Antimicrobial Assay and Phytochemical Analysis of Ethanolic Extracts of Voacanga africana Seeds

Abstract

Abstract: Dried and pulverized seeds of Voacanga africana were extracted with hot and cold absolute ethanol. The extracts were screened for their phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activities. The results revealed the presence of some bioactive compounds; alkaloids, anthranoids, anthraquinone, cardiac glycosides, phenols, phlobatanins, starch and tannins. The crude extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (34.61 and 25%), Serretia marcescens (45.08 and 29.16%) and Staphylococcus aureus (42.10 and 34.21%). Others are Alternaria solani (33.33 and 25%), Aspergilus flavus (33.33 and 22%), A. niger (25 and 00%) Candida albicans (29.62 and 25.92 %) and Rhizopus stolonifer (22.58 and 19.35 %); relative to the standard antibiotics, Gentamicin and Clotrimazole; in the Agar Well. Diffusion sensitivity test. The efficacy of the hot extract was greater than the cold extracts in the test organisms, except in Pseudomonas aeruginosa where they appeared equipotent. [Journal of