Antimicrobial Activities and Phytochemical Screening of the Solvent fractions of the Leaves and Stems of Leea guineensis G. Don

Aim: We evaluated the antibacterial activities and phytochemical distribution of the solvent fractions of the leaf and stem of Leea guineensis G. Don.

Methodology: The antibacterial activities and phytochemical distribution of the solvent fractions of the leaf and stem of L. guineensis were determined using standard procedures.

Results: Methanol fraction of the leaves at 100 mg/mL showed activity against Acinetobacter baumammii while both ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of the leaves at 100 mg/mL have activities against Acinetobacter baumammii. The methanol fraction of LGS leaves at 25-100 mg/mL was potent against Escherichia coli, while the ethyl acetate fraction of the stem at 100 mg/mL was inhibitory to Escherichia coli. Both the ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of the leaf of LGS possess antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, however, the methanol fractions of the stem alone inhibit Staphylococcus aureus. Ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of the leaf were inhibitory to Pseudomonas aeruginosa while ethyl acetate fraction of the stem was highly efficacious on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Only the methanol fraction of the leaf was potent against Proteus mirabilis, while both ethyl acetate and methanol fraction of the stem were potent against Proteus mirabilis. Both ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of the stem at 100 µg/mL were potent against Klebsiella pneumoniae but, only the methanol fraction of the stem was potent on Klebsiella pneumoniae. The methanol fraction of the leaves was potent against Salmonella Typhi however, both ethyl acetate and methanol fraction of the stem were potent against Salmonella Typhi. More phytochemicals were found in ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of both the leaves and stems.

Conclusion: The ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of the leaves and stem of L. guineensis seem to possess some antibacterial properties courtesy of the abundant phytochemicals found in these fractions.