Studies on the antibacterial activity and chemical constituents of Khaya senegalensis and Ximenia americana leaf extracts

Abstract

Studies on the antibacterial activity and chemical constituents of the aqueous and methonolic leaf extracts of Khaya
senegalensis and Ximenia americana were carried out using standard methods. Disc concentrations of 125, 250, 500 and
1000 µg/ml of t he extracts were used against five bacterial isolates obtained from post-surgical wounds at the National
Orthopaedic Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. Both extracts showed no activity against all the test bacteria. The minimum
inhibitory concentration for both extracts was above 1000 µg/ml. Phytochemical screening showe d the presence of
saponins and absence of flavonoids in both the aqueous and methonolic extracts of K. senegalensis. Steroids and
reducing sugars were found only in the methonolic extract while alkaloids and tannins were present only in the aqueous
extract. In X. americana, flavonoids, steroids, tannins and reducing sugars were found in the methonolic extract while
the aqueous extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins and tannins. Although there was no activity of both
extracts against the test bacteria, however, the presence of these chemical constituents signifies the potential of these
plants as sources of therapeutic agents. This supports the traditional use of these plants in curing wound infections. It
is therefore suggested that further studies be carried out using higher extract concentrations as well as to isolate, purify
and identify the active compounds present in these extracts with a view to justifying these claims.