Phytochemistry and in-vitro Antimicrobial Evaluation of Phragmanthera incana (Schum.) Balle Extracts on Selected Clinical Microorganisms

Aims: Phragmanthera incana, an African mistletoe hemi-parasitic plant growing on cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and kolanut (Cola nitida) trees was screened for antimicrobial and phytochemical activities due to their ethno medicinal claims as remedies for gastro intestinal tract infections, wound, diarrhoea, dysentery and skin infections.

Methodology: The antimicrobial activities of hexane, methanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of P. incana obtained from cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and kolanut (Cola nitida) trees were tested in vitro against five Gram negative and two Gram positive pathogenic bacteria; and three pathogenic fungi species using agar well diffusion technique. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemicals of the plants were determined by chemical methods.

Results: Phytochemical screening of P. incana on cocoa and kolanut trees showed the presence of phytochemicals quality and quantity assessments. Varying degrees of inhibitory activities was observed with the solvent extracts of P. incana from cocoa and kolanut trees on test bacteria species while the test fungi species were resistant to all the extracts.

Conclusion: This study showed that the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Phragmanthera incana had more antibacterial activities than other solvents. Antifungal activity was not exhibited by the five extracts of P. incana harvested from the two host plants used. Proteus mirabilis and P. aerugiosa commonly known for their resistant activities to most conventional antibiotics were inhibited by some of the extracts of P. incana in this study.