Abstract

Extractives from the root of Cissampelos owariensis, were screened for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. The crude methanol extract was found to be active against the test organisms except S. pyogenes and P.aeruginosa. The crude extract as well as the polar neutral fraction and the aqueous residue also showed very promising activity against three strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogens that are of commercial significance, at about 3000 µg/ml. Chromatographic separation of the hexane-soluble fraction of the crude methanol extract gave two partially pure extractives which on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis and comparison with Library computer data led to the identification of two compounds, namely  2H-cyclopropa[a]naphthalene-2,5-dione,1,1a, 3,4,6,7,7a,7b-octahydro-1,1,7a,7b-tetramethyl, and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-octyl ester.

Key words: Cissampelos owariensis extracts, anti-tuberculosis activity, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-octyl ester, 2H-cyclopropa[a]naphthalene-2,5-dione,1,1a,3,4,6,7,7a,7b-octahydro-1,1,7a,7b-tetramethyl.