Abstract:
This study investigated the presence of phytochemicals in the stem bark of Annona senegalensis. Phytochemicals extracted were alkanoid, flavonoid, tannin, saponin, and phenol, and the three extracts were: Cold Water Extract (CWE), Hot Water Extract (HWE) and Methanol Extracts (ME). The extracts of A. senegalensis were tested on Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumonia isolates in order to measure their antimicrobial and bactericidal activities. Irrespective of the method of extraction, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was found to be 3.125 µl/ml. Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) required to kill the test organisms were also recorded.
While CWE needs 100 µl/ml to kill each of the test organisms, HWE and ME both required
concentrations of 50 µl/ml to completely kill E. coli and K. pneumonia. For P. mirabilis, the HWE needed a concentration of 400 µl/ml, while ME needed a concentration of 100 µl/ml to kill the organism. It was therefore concluded that the extracts of A. senegalensis had the potential to inhibit the growth (MIC) or even kill (MBC) the studied microorganisms at particular concentrations. This study is preliminary; therefore, an in vivo study should be undertaken to further test the potency and toxicity of the extracts with the view of standardizing the dosage and educating the traditional medicine practitioners on how to achieve healing without causing harm to patients.
