Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of Carica Papaya L, Citrus Paradisi L, Citrus Sinensis L, and Vernonia Amygdalina Del. Cent

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity and phytochemical analysis were carried out on the leaves of Carica papaya L, Citrus paradise L Citrus sinensis L and Vernonia amygdalina. The aim of the work is to determine the phytochemical contents, diameter of inhibition and minimum inhibition concentration of the grasses studied. The four-plant species were found to contain alkaloid, saponin, tannins, flavonoid and phenols in varying proportions. The phytochemical contents of C. papaya (Pawpaw) were as follows: alkaloid (1.11 ± 0.02%), saponins (0.53 ± 0.04%), tannin (0.43 ± 0.4%), flavonoid (0.67 ± 0.01%) and phenols (0.91 ± 0.03%). For Citrus Paradisi (Grape) alkaloid content was (0.31 ± 0.05), saponins (0.19 ± 0.01), tannins (0.25 ± 0.01), flavonoid (0.36 ± 0.02), phenol (0.52 ± 0.04). In Citrus sinensis (Orange), alkaloid was (0.23 ± 0.01), saponin (0.23 ± 0.01), tannin (0.15 ± 0.01), flavonoid (0.33 ± 0.01) and phenol (0.59 ± 0.07). For Vernonia amygdalina Del. Cent (Bitter leaf), alkaloid (1.31 ± 0.03), saponin (1.15 ± 0.01), flavonoid (0.71 ± 0.02), tannin (0.43 ± 0.01), phenol (1.15 ± 0.01). The anti-microbial activity of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of leaves of the plants were tested against four microorganisms; Salmonella pullorum, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterobacter aerogenes and Proteus vulgaris. The susceptibility of the microorganisms was determined using the disk diffusion method. The leaf extract of these plants inhibited the growth of these pathogens. All the ethanolic leaf extracts of the plants inhibited the clinical isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentration was analyzed using agar well diffusion method with values ranging between 50 mg/ml and 200 mg/ml against all the clinical isolates. There were variations in the lowest concentrations of the different plant extracts that caused inhibitions against the various microorganisms.