Abstract:
This study sought to investigate the chemical composition, antibacterial and antifungal
activities of ethanol extract and fractions of the root bark of Anthocleista vogelii Planch. The
GCMS analysis of the n-hexane fraction (nHF) of A. vogelii revealed the presence of 12
volatile compounds. While the classes of compounds profiled in terpenoid rich fraction
(TRF) using LCMS were majorly terpenoids (tarennoside, 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde, 12-
hydroxyjasmonic acid, 5-megastigmen-7-yne-3,9-diol 9-glucoside, gibberellin A2 O-beta-Dglucoside,
15-Acetoxyscirpene-3,4-diol 4-O-a-D-glucopyranoside), organic/carboxylic acids
and fatty acids. The results revealed good antibacterial activity of ethanol extract (EEx)
against S. aureus at MIC = 2 mg/mL, but moderate activity by TRF (MIC = 8 mg/mL)
although, the TRF had better antibacterial activity than EEX against E. coli (MIC = 8
mg/mL) and S. paratyphi (MIC = 8 mg/mL). The TRF had similar antifungal activity with
EEX against T. rubrum (MIC = 4 mg/mL) and T. mentagrophytes (MIC = 8 mg/mL), but
displayed better activity against C. albicans (MIC = 4 mg/mL). The nHF showed no
antibacterial or antifungal activities. The antimicrobial activities of extract (EEX) and
fraction (TRF) of A. vogelii root back validates its use in traditional medicine for treatment of
typhoid, urinary tract infection, food poisoning, diarrhea, stomach aches and skin diseases.
