Preliminary phytochemical and antibacterial screening of  Scadoxus multiflorus

International Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, Vol 3, No 2 (2009)

Preliminary phytochemical and antibacterial screening of Scadoxus multiflorus

A. A. Aliero, B. L. Aliero, U. Buhari

Abstract

Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of methanol, acetone and aqueous extracts obtained from subterranean part of Scadoxus multiflorus were investigated in an attempt to evaluate its medicinal potential. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and cardiac glycosides with a very high content in the aqueous extract. The concentration of the phytoconstituents were in the order of aqueous > methanol > acetone. Growth inhibition was determined using agar well diffusion method against five selected bacteria species. Aqueous extract showed broad spectrum activity against the tested organisms. Methanol and acetone extracts only inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The result of this study validates the use of aqueous extract of this species in ethanomedicine and could provide a lead in the isolation of antibacterial agents from aqueous extract of Scadoxus multiflorus.

Keywords: Scadoxus multiflorus, antibacterial, phytochemical, ethnomedicine

Full Text: PDF

Promote open access - contribute to help support the International Journal of Pure and Applied Science

$