ISSN 2169-3048
International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 6 (2), pp. 740-744, February, 2017. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Preliminary screening of the antimicrobial activities of some medicinal vegetables and spices indigenous to AbrakaSouth-south Nigeria
1Okwuwe CI*, 1Tonukari NJand 2Uzoh CV
1Department of Biochemistry Delta State University PMB 1Abraka,Delta State Nigeria.
2Department of Microbiology Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo PMB 1010 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria.
*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 07 January, 2016
Abstract
The phytochemical and antimicrobial activities of some indigenous Nigerian vegetables and spices against E.coli and C.albicans were determined using the susceptibility and inhibitory concentration technique. The vegetables Cucurbitacaea peltafum, Acalypha begonia and spices Mondora myristica and Aframomum sceptrum extracts showed susceptibility with zones of inhibition diameters of 10mm, 8mm,10mm and 7mm respectively after 24 hours of incubation while vegetables like V. amygdalina, Talinium triangulare, C. peltafum, A. begonia, Telferiaoccidentalis and the spice Monodora myristica extractshad zones of inhibition of 6mm, 7mm, 9mm, 11mm, 10mm and 10mm respectively against C. albicans. The phytochemical screening analysis showed that extracts with antimicrobial activity contains some quantity of phytochemicals like saponin, tannin, flavonoid and alkaloids. These results shows that this plant can be used for the treatment of diseases caused by these microorganisms. These antimicrobial properties exerted may be due to the presence of the phytochemicals.
Keywords: Phytochemical, antimicrobial activity, spices, vegetables, saponin.