Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Antimicrobial Activities of Pterocarpus santalinoides (Nturukpa Seed)
by Nwafor Ihennariorochi Adanna, Nnabugwu Felicity Chidinma, Emehelu Chidinma C.

Abstract:
Medicinal plants have been used since ancient times as medicines for the treatment of human diseases. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activities of Pterocarpussantalinoides (nturukpa seed). The seeds were collected from the plant tree in Ozara, Isiukwuato Local Government Area, Abia State. The seeds were dried, ground and extracted using ethanol, cold and hot water. Qualitative phytochemical screening was adopted in the determination of the phytochemical constituents of the extracts. Agar well diffusion technique was adopted in the determination of the antimicrobial susceptibility of the test organisms. Tube dilution technique was adopted in the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts.Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of saponins, anthranoids, anthraquinones, alkaloids, tannins, phenols and phlobatannins were detected in both extracts. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the seed extracts revealed zones of inhibition ranging from 20 mm to 28 mm with ethanol seed extract and 12 mm to 18 mm with cold and hot seed extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 62.5 mg/ml to 125 mg/ml with ethanol extract and 250 mg/ml to 500 mg/ml with aqueous extracts. Bactericidal/fungicidal effect recorded ranged from 250 mg/ml to 500 mg/ml with ethanol extract and 500 mg/ml with aqueous extracts. The cold and hot water extracts showed bacteriostatic and fungiostatic effect against some o the test organisms. The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extracts of P. santalinoides obtained in this study may be attributed to the presence of phytochemical in plant. The utilization of this plant part in complementary and alternative medicine should be considered relevant in the society

Keywords: Pterocarpus Santalinoides, Antimicrobial Activity, Phytochemical Constituents, Extraction

Download full paper