Abstract

Bacterial infectious diseases are the most leading cause of death, accounting for approximately one half of all deaths. Hence, the study was designed to carry out the phytochemical screening and antibacterial potential of the ethanol, methanol and aqueous leaf extracts of Calotropis procera. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. Using the Agar well diffusion method, the different extract showed visible inhibitory effect when compared to the positive control. The ethanol extract was observed to be more potent on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi respectively than the methanol and aqueous extract. The best minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the ethanol extract observed for S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa at 125 mg/ml; for methanol, it was also recorded at 125 mg/ml for E. coli, and P. aeruginosa while the aqueous extract showed the list MIC at 500 mg/ml for E. coli and P. aeruginosa. However, the ethanol extract showed the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at 250 mg/ml for S. aureus and E. coli and methanol extract, at 250 mg/ml for E.coli while the aqueous extract showed MBC at 500 mg/ml on E. coli and no MBC result was obtained for the others. From these findings, it shows that the plant is a potential source of bioactive compounds that can be used in management of bacterial infections.

Keywords: Agar well diffusion, minimum bactericidal, bioactive potential, phytochemicals, inhibition