Abstract

The study was to determine the phytochemical compounds and antifungal activity of the extracts of the leaves, root, bark and seeds of Calabash nutmeg (Monodora myristica) and red-flowered silk cotton tree (Bombax buonopozense). The phytochemicals were extracted and analyzed using standard methods and the antifungal activity of the ethanolic extracts determined with clinical isolates of Candida albicans using the well diffusion method. The ethanolic extracts of B. buonopozense and M. myristica contained a mixture of compounds; saponins, tannins, general glycosides, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids and triterpenoids. Saponins were present in all the plant extracts except the root of B. buonopozense. Extracts of M. myristica bark and seed contained more number of the different phytochemical compounds compared with the extracts of other plant parts. All the B. buonopozense extracts gave the same number of different phytochemical compounds although the type of compounds present varied from one part of the plant to another. All the plant extracts, except the bark of B. buonoposenze, showed some level of significant activity against C. albicans (p < 0.001). Among these extracts, M. myristica seed and root parts were the most effective in inhibiting the growth of C. albicans. The antifungal activities of most of the plant extracts were also comparable to the standard Clotrimazole drug. These findings revealed the presence of major phytochemicals (saponins, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, general glycosides, flavonoids and triterpenoids) in the plants which could be responsible for the activities of the extracts on C. albicans.

Key words: Antimicrobial activity, crude ethanolic extract, antifungal activity, Bombax buonoposenze, Monodora myristica