Phytochemical and Antimicrobial analysis of leaves of Bridelia micrantha, Cassytha filiformis, Euphorbia hirta and Securinega virosa

Abstract

This analysis was carried out to identify and compare the phytochemicals present in the n-hexane, methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of Bridelia micrantha, Cassytha filiformis, Euphorbia hirta and Securinega virosa and their antimicrobial activities. The results showed presence of saponin, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannin and phenolics in the methanol extracts of the four plants. The ethyl acetate extracts of the plants showed presence of saponin, alkaloids, tannin, phenolics, glycosides while the n-hexane extracts showed presence of flavonoids, alkaloids and phenolics. The quantitative phytochemical analysis showed that Securinega virosa has the highest quantity of saponin, cardiac glycoside, alkaloids and flavonoids while Cassytha filiformis has the highest quantity of tannin. The antimicrobial analysis showed that Staphylococcus aureus and E.coli are most susceptible to the ethyl acetate extract of Securinega virosa. Salmonella spp. is most susceptible to the methanol extract of Euphorbia hirta. This maybe attributed to the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids in Securinega virosa and Euphorbia hirta.