Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate the relative antibacterial activity and phytochemical
properties of ethanolic and water extracts of Anacardium occidentale (cashew) stem bark. The
phytochemicals were screened using qualitative methods. Qualitatively analyzed phytochemical
constituents in the stem bark extracts includes carbohydrates, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins,
sterols, anthraquinone, terpens and phenol. The microorganisms assayed for the antibacterial activities
using the agar well diffusion were Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhi, Bacillus subtilis and
Staphylococcus aureus, studies on the susceptibility pattern and the zones of inhibition exhibited by the
extracts shows a certain degree of inhibitory effects against the test organisms. Ethanolic extract of A.
occidentale stem bark was effective against B.subtilis at concentration of 100mg/ml and 50 mg/ml only, S.
aureus and S. Typhi at concentration of 100 mg/ml only, and E. coli at concentration of 100 mg/ml only
while in aqueous extract of A. occidentale stem bark, there was effect against S. aureus at concentration of
100 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml, followed by B. subtilis at concentration of 100 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml, S. Typhi
and lastly E.coli both at the concentration of 100 mg/ml. Considering the diameter of the zone of
inhibition, it was noticed that there was little or no difference between the diameters of both extracts.
Although, these results suggest an important ethno-pharmaceutical potential of A. occidentaleas a source of
compounds with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity that can be used in the pharmaceutical industry its
low activity may be due to low concentration of the extracts.
