Phytochemical screening, acute toxicity study and evaluation of in vitro antimicrobial activities of the fractions of Dacryodes edulis against selected clinical bacterial isolates

Abstract

Dacryodes edulis is a dioecious, small to medium-sized tree, reaching 20 to 25 m high. Different parts of the plant are used to treat many diseases including skin infections, digestive tract disorder and dysentery. The leaves were extracted exhaustively using methanol and then partitioned using n-hexane and pet ether. The fractions were evaluated for their phytochemical constituents and antibacterial potentials. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of carbohydrate, flavonoid, phenolics, anthraquinone, cardiac glycosides, steroids and proteins. The methanol and ethyl acetate fractions showed moderate to significant activities against all bacterial strains except that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The n-hexane fraction showed no activity in all the bacteria strains investigated. The highest and lowest antimicrobial activity was observed for the ethyl acetate and methanol fractions respectively when compared to the standard drug. The results revealed the leaf extracts of Dacryodes edulis showed notable antibacterial activity which can be used as medicine.