Phytochemical and Antibacterial Activities of Terminalia Superba engl. and Diels Leaf and Stem Bark Extracts

Abstract

Drug resistance by clinically important pathogens is now a worldwide problem with far-reaching consequences especially considering that the emergence of drug resistance is now out pacing the development of new drugs. This study was aimed at evaluating the antibacterial potential of the leaves and stem bark of Terminalia superba in a bid to identify potential sources of cheap antimicrobial agents. Extraction was done using solvent partition co-efficient method with four different solvents. The antibacterial susceptibility studiesweredoneusingtheAgarwelldiffusiontechniques.Theminimuminhibitoryconcentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) ofthemostactiveextractsweredeterminedusingthebrothdilution method. The results of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Flavonoids, Tannins, Saponins, and Terpenoids. The different fractions of the leaves and stem bark had antibacterial activities, which was found to be more on the Gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus than on the gram negative bacteria Escherichiacoli.The Methanolic fractions had the highest activity, followed by that of Ethylacetate, Aqueous and then the Hexane fractions. The results of this study show that Terminalia superba contains therapeutically useful compounds justifying the use of the plant in traditional medicine