PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF Vernonia amygdalina AGAINST SOME CLINICAL ISOLATES

Abstract

This study evaluates the phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activity of V. amygdalina against some clinical isolates, with a view of determining its potential therapeutic application and justifying its use in folklore medicine. Phytochemical screening, biochemical and agar diffusion standard procedures were employed. Four phytochemicals namely: Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins were found in V. amygdalina leaf extract with absence of cardiac glycosides. V. amygdalina ethanol leaf extract was found promising against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus at concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml. No activity was exhibited against Candida albicans at all the tested concentrations. Furthermore, the extract was also found promising against both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa with a similar MIC of 50mg/ml and an MBC of 25mg/ml. These findings suggest the potential of V. amygdalina leaf extract to be used in the management of infection due to P. aeruginosa and S. aureus.