Abstract

The incidence of drug resistant strains of pathogenic microbes remained a rising global concern to the pharmaceutical world. This was consequent upon adaptation due to continuous use of conventional drugs with numerous associated setbacks. The phytochemical screening and antibacterial effects of ethanolic leaf extracts of Pterocapus erinaceus on Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli was investigated, using standard procedures. Saponins, phenols, steroids, reducing sugar and tannins were bioactive compounds obtained at resonance frequencies of 0.022, 2.812, 0.001, 0.232 and 0.720 respectively. The sensitivity response of the test organisms to control drug compared significantly (p<0.05) with the leaf extract across the concentrations. Average zones of inhibition were 5.00, 10.00, 12.00 and 17.00mm for Escherichia coli, 12.00, 15.00, 20.00 and 21.00mm for Salmonella typhi at 25, 50,100 and 200mg/ml respectively. The antibacterial potential ranged from moderate to strong and strong to very strong for Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi respectively. The ethanolic leaf extract gave ≤25mg/ml and ≥200mg/ml as minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations against Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli respectively, with bacteriostatic antibiotic power effects on the microbes. These findings clearly revealed potential antibiotic alternative to conventional options, while raising afforestation need to guarantee sustainable management of the plant.

Key Words:Phytochemical, Ethanolic, Extract, Pterocapus erinaceus, bactericidal, Bacteriostatic