Abstract

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of extracts of Pseudocedrela kotschyi (Schweinf.) Harms used in folklore medicine in order to authenticate some of its therapeutic claims. The antimicrobial activity of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the leaves of P. kotschyi was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli, using agar diffusion technique. Carbohydrates, reducing sugars, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids and tannins were present in the leaves of P. kotschyi. The results of the antimicrobial activity showed that the ethyl acetate extract was more effective against all the test microorganisms than the methanol extract. The petroleum ether extract was resistant to all the test microorganisms. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) exhibited by the ethyl acetate extract against the microorganisms was 10 mg/ml, except for S. typhi andC. albicans that had the value of 20 mg/ml. The methanol extract was active only against S aureus, S. typhi and E coli, and the MIC value for the microorganisms was 20 mg/ml. The lowest value of minimum bactericidal concentration exhibited by the ethyl acetate extract was 20 mg/ml, and the value was obtained for S. aureus S. pyogenes and E. coli. In conclusion, the leaves of P. kotschyi are a potential source of novel antimicrobial agents.

Key words: Pseudocedrela kotschyi, leaves, extracts, phytochemical composition, antimicrobial activity.

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: MICs, Minimum inhibitory concentrations; MBC, minimum bactericidal concentration.