Phytochemical screening, determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids, and evaluation of the antibacterial activity of leaves of Turraea heterophylla Smith (Meliaceae)

Abstract

Turraea heterophylla Smith (Meliaceae) is a species used in Ivorian’s traditional medicine for its various properties, such as antimalarial and aphrodisiac. This study aims to determine the chemical composition of the leaves from T. heterophylla and their content in polyphenols, in addition the antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract. Chemical test and spectrophotometry methods were used for phyotchemical study. The antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (CIP 54127AF) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CIP 103467). Phytochemical study revealed the presence of polyterpenes, steroids, alkaloids, saponins, polyphenols and flavonoids. A very high content of flavonoids and polyphenols were observed in the ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts. The antibacterial tests indicated that the methanol extract of the leaves from T. heterophylla had bacteriostatic properties against the germs tested with MIC values greater than 3000 µg / mL.