Abstract

The phytochemical screening of the ethyl acetate extract revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, resins and carbohydrates. Seventy-eight fractions were elucidated from the extract using the bioassay-guided fractionation by employing the accelerated gradient chromatography (AGC) technique. All the fractions showed antimicrobial activity against the test organisms. Antimicrobial activities of the ethyl acetate extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaf against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans (clinical isolates); Ps. aeruginosa ATCC 10145, S. aureus ATCC 12600, E. coli ATCC 11775 and C. albicans ATCC 18804 using agar well diffusion and agar diffusion methods showed that the extract possess broad spectrum of activity against the test Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and the fungi/yeast with diameter of zones of inhibition ranging from 10.0 - 35.0 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC.) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extract against the test organisms were found to fall between 0.625 - 10 mg/ml. The results of the rates of kill revealed that ethyl acetate extract produced 100% kill of Ps. aeruginosa, E. coli and S. aureus at low concentrations after 2 h. The results have therefore proved the claims of traditional healers in the use of the plant leaf.

Key words: Alchornea cordifolia, ethyl acetate extract, phytochemical, antimicrobial activity, fractionation.