PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTI BACTERIAL STUDIES ON THE STEM BARK OF LANNEA BARTERI. (OLIV.) ENGL. (ANACARDIACEAE)

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTI BACTERIAL STUDIES ON THE STEM BARK OF LANNEA BARTERI. (OLIV.) ENGL. (ANACARDIACEAE), A RESEARCH PROJECT TOPIC ON MICROBIOLOGY

ABSTRACT

Lannea bartei (Oliv.) Engl. is a plant with medicinal and commercial uses found usually in the tropical regions like Africa especially Ivory Coast. The plant is used traditionally to treat various diseases including wound healing and as anti diarrhoea. This research is aimed at investigating the wound healing claim which is due to anti bacterial property of the stem bark of the plant. Powdered stem bark of the plant (2 kg) was extracted with methanol using maceration technique and part of the crude extract obtained (300 g) was used for phytochemical screening and anti bacterial assay against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. Physical constant determination and the chemo microscopical features of the powdered stem bark were also carried out. 50 g of the crude methanolic extracts was dissolved in warm water, filtered and the filtrate was partitioned with hexane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol to obtained the respective fractions of the organic solvents hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions which were equally used for antibacterial assay. The aqueous fraction and the resultant three fractions obtained after partitioned were tested against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli and S. typhi. Most of them were active but the ethyl acetate fraction was more active and was subjected to column and thin layer chromatography leading to the isolation of an oily substance which is yellowish in colour named compound A. The compound was also subjected to antibacterial assay and was found to be active against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli and S. typhi. Specific test and FTIR result on the compound A shows the evidence of presence of phenolic group in the compound. The stem bark of L. barteri posseses anti bacterial activity and this is attributed to the presence of various classes of compounds which were proven by this research to be present. These compounds include phenols, alkaloid, coumarins etc.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1      Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants have also been of importance in the health care system of local communities as the main source of medicine for the majority of the rural population. Plants have not only nutritional value but also, in the eyes of the local people, they have medicinal and ritual or magical values (Adewunmi et al., 2001). Plants have been a major source of medicine for human kind. According to available information, a total of at least 35000 plants species are widely used for medicinal purposes. The demand for traditional herbs is increasing very rapidly, mainly because of the harmful effects of synthetic chemical drugs. The global clamor for more herbal ingredients creates possibilities for the local cultivation of medicinal and aromatic crops as well as for the regulated and sustainable harvest of wild plants. Such endeavors could help raise rural employment in the developing countries, boost commerce around the world and perhaps contribute to the health of millions (Anita, 2004). 

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTI BACTERIAL STUDIES ON THE STEM BARK OF LANNEA BARTERI. (OLIV.) ENGL. (ANACARDIACEAE), A RESEARCH PROJECT TOPIC ON MICROBIOLOGY