Phytochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Calotropis Procera (Ait) R. Br. (Sodom Apple) Fruit and Bark Extracts

Abstract

Phytochemical and antibacterial activities of water, methanol and ethanol extracts obtained from the fruit and bark of Calotropis procera were investigated in an attempt to evaluate its medicinal potentials. The phytochemical screen- ing revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and cardiac glycosides with a very high content in water extracts. The concentration of the phytochemical constituents were in the order of water > methanol > ethanol. Anti- bacterial activity was determined against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pyrogenes. Water extracts showed inhibition against the tested organisms at 30 mg/ml. Methanol and ethanol extracts did not show an appreciable activity at 30 and 90 mg/ml respectively. The result of this study validates the use of water extract of this species in ethnomedicine and could provide a lead in the isolation of antibacterial agents from water extracts of Calotropis procera.