Short Communication: Studies of antimicrobial activity and chemical constituents of Ximenia americana

Abstract

Ximenia Americana is a plant that is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria, leproutic ulcers and skin infections of mixed origin in Northern parts of Nigeria. To evaluate the scientific basis for the use of the plant, the antimicrobial activities of extract of the leaves were evaluated against six common bacterial isolates. Chemical constituents of the extract were also determined. The extract of was active against the test organisms including Escherischia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, anthrax-quinones, starch, general glycosides and bitter principles were found to be present in the extract. Key words: Antimicrobial activity; chemical constituents leaves extract; Ximenia americana Trop J Pharm Res, December 2003; 2(2): 239-241