PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF DRIED SEED EXTRACTS OF MARANTHES POLYANDRA

Abstract

The chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of dried seeds of Maranthespolyandra were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. The extracts revealed presence of steroidal triterpenes, cardiac glycosides and trace of alkaloids. Antimicrobial activities of the extracts were carried out using broth dilution method. The test organisms were laboratory isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Shigelladysenteriae, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, Candida stellatoidea, Microsporumgypseum, Microsporumsp. and Trichophytonrubrum. Ethyl acetate extracts exhibited the highest zone of inhibition (29 mm) against Candida stellatoidea. Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts inhibited growth of many tested organisms at concentration of 3.75 mg/mL. The minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration of other extracts against the test organisms was 15 mg/mL while ethyl acetate was 7.5 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Shigelladysenteriae, and Candida stellatoidea. This study has justified the traditional use of the plant for treatment of various diseases that are caused by these pathogens.