DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2017.v05i06.009

Pages: 459-464

The antibacterial activity of the hexane, dichloromethane, etyl acetate and methanol extracts of psorospermum senegalense leaf belonging to the family Hypericaceae, was determined in vitro, using well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination method against nine human pathogenic bacteria: (klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, proteus vulgaris streptococcus pneumonia, vancomycin resistant enterococci, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, pseudomonas flourescense and streptococcus pyogenes,) and three human pathogenic fungi (candida tropicalis, candida krusei and Candida pseudotropicalis). The hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate and methanol extracts displayed a potential antibacterial activity against five out of the nine tested bacteria: (Staphylococcus aureus,, streptococcus pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and streptococcus pyogenes,)and two out of three tested fungi (candida tropicalis, and Candida pseudotropicalis)The ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest zone of inhibition (28 mm) and MIC(3.25mg/ml) against Streptococcus pyogenes. The highest inhibition of fungal growth (27mm) and MIC (3.25mg/ml) was recorded against C. pseudotropicalis with ethyl acetate extract. The hexane extract exhibited the lowest zone of inhibition (18 mm) and MIC (15mg/ml) against streptococcus pneumoniae as well as C.Krusei and C.pseudokrusei. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids Cardiac glycosides, steroids and triterpenes in all the four extracts, tannins and flavonoids were present in the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts. While Saponins and anthraquinones were absent in all the four extracts. The consequences of this investigation suggest that the extracts can be used to discover antibacterial agent for developing new pharmaceuticals to control studied human pathogenic bacteria and fungi responsible for severe illness.