Abstract

Studies were conducted to determine the active chemical constituents of stem aqueous extract of Anisopus mannii by way of phytochemistry and to evaluate itsin vitro antimicrobial activity, using the disc diffusion technique as described by the National Committee of Clinical Laboratory Standard (1993). Using standard phytochemical analysis procedures, results revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenes and steroids. Tannins and anthraquinones were not detected in the extract. The stem aqueous extract of A. mannii dose dependently inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Salmonella gallinarium, Klebsiella pneumoniae,and Pseudomonas aeruginosa except for Candida albicans where the extract did not show any activity. The minimal inhibitory concentration (M.I.C) values were 25 mg/ml for E. coli, 50 mg/ml for S. aureus, S. pyogenes, S. gallinarium, and P. aeruginosa and 100 mg/ml for K. pneumoniae. The minimal bactericidal concentration (M.B.C) was 50 mg/ml for E. coli, S. aureus, S. gallinarium, and P. aeruginosa, 100 mg/ml for S. pyogenes and 200 mg/ml for K. pneumoniae. These results suggest that the stem aqueous extract of A. mannii could be promising in its potential usefulness for treatment of bacterial induced ailments.

Key words: Phytochemical, extract, antimicrobial, Anisopus mannii.