DOI: 10.36347/sajp

Pages: 124-131

The root-bark of Acacia ataxacantha (Fabaceae) was investigated for medicinal potential. The Phytochemical screening indicated presence of flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, steroids/triterpenes, tannins and alkaloids. The crude extracts and α-amyrenol were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal potentials, using the following clinical isolates; Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pneumonia, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Candida krusei. The zone of inhibition of the test organism ranges from 17 – 19 mm (Pet. ether), 20- 25 mm (chloroform), 20 – 30 mm (ethyl acetate), 20 – 23 mm (methanol) and 25 – 31 mm (α-amyrenol). These compared favourably with Sparfloxacin (35 – 42 mm) and Cefuroxime (34 – 40 mm) used as positive control. No activities were observed on Corynebacterium ulcerans, Streptococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis and Candida tropicalis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the crude extracts showed that Methanol and chloroform fractions had 5 mg/mL and petroleum ether had 10 mg/mL on the test organisms. Ethyl acetate fraction was the most active, with MIC of 2.5 mg/mL against B. subtilis, E. coli, S. Typhi and K. pneumonia. The minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) showed that ethyl acetate extract completely kill B. subtilis, E. coli and K. pneumonae at a concentration of 5.0 mg/mL. Chromatographic purification of the Ethyl acetate extract led to the isolation of α-amyrenol (3β)-Urs-12-en-3-ol).The MIC and MBC/MFC of α-amyrenol was found to be 12.5 and 25 µg/mL respectively against B. subtilis, E. coli and S. typhi. These seem to justify the numerous folkloric medicinal uses of the plant.