ABSTRACT

This project studied the antimicrobial activity of Spondias mombin plant against bacterial isolates from wounds.  Water and ethanol extracts of leaf and bark of the plant was used against the wound isolates at in-vitro level by spread plate disc diffusion techniques. Results obtained showed four bacterial species including Candida species  from the wounds with the following occurrence Staphylococcus (88.9%), Streptococcus (77.8%), Pseudomonas (55.6%), E.coli (44.4%) and Candida (33.3%).  Phytochemical analysis of the plant parts showed the presence of different phytochemicals in the different extracts. The water extract showed the content of alkaloid (0.18%), phenol (0.08%), flavonoids (0.27%), saponins (0.54%), tannin 0.46% and HCN 9.27 mg/kg in the leaf while the corresponding values in the aqueous solution of the bark was 0.12%, 0.33%, 0.26%, 0.40%, 0.22%  and 7.18mg/kg. Ethanol extracts of the leaf and bark had alkaloid 0.36% and 0.24%, flavonoids 0.27% and 0.33%, saponins 0.34% and 0.24%, tannin 0.37% and 0.18%, phenol 0.56% and 0.52% respectively. The antibacterial activity test shows that the extract inhibited the wound isolates to different levels. Against the test isolates, the water extract of the leaf caused inhibition zones of 7.33mm to 14.67mm while that of the bark was 6.33mm to 13.67mm.  Ethanol extract inhibitions were 13. 33 to 20.33mm (leaf) and 10.33mm to 20.00mm (bark). It was recorded that the ethanol extracts were more potent than the water extracts and the leaf extracts  were more potent than the bark extracts.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification. ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Contents v

List of Tables viiii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE:   INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study 1

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Drug plants 3

2.2 Drug classification 3

2.3 Phytomedicine 4

2.3.1 Historical perspective of Phytomedicine 4

2.3.2 Challenges facing phytomedicine 5

2.3.3 Phytochemicals 6

2.4 Alkaloids 6

2.4.1 Flavonoid 7

2.4.2 Saponin 8

2.4.3 Tannins 8

2.4.4 Phenols 8

2.5 Ethnobotany and pharmacology of plant sample 9

2.6 Test organism 9

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS 

3.1 Experiement sites and source of materials 12

3.2 Sample and media preparation 12

3.2.1 Sample preparation 12

3.2.2 Media preparation 12

3.3 Isolation of bacteria from wound 13

3.4 Preparation of crude extracts from S. Mombin 14

3.5 Tests for Antimicrobial Activity  (In vitro ) 14

3.6 Quanlitative phytochemical screening 15

3.6.1 Test for Tannin 16

3.6.2 Test for Saponins 16

3.6.3 test for Flavonoids 16

3.6.4 Test for Alkaloids 17

3.6.5 Test for Phenols 17

3.6.6 Test for cyanogenic glycoside (HCN) 17

3.7 Quantitative determination of phytochemicals 18

3.7.1 Determination of Alkaloids 18

3.7.2 Determination of Flavonoids ` 19

3.7.3 Determination of Tannins 19

3.7.4 Determination of Saponin 20

3.7.5 Determination of phenols 22

3.7.6 Determination of cyanogenic Glycoside (HCN) 22

3.7.7 Determination of Oxalate 23

3.7.8  Determination of phylate 24

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Results 25

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION CONTRIBUTION

 TO KNOWLEDGE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER 

STUDIES 

5.1  Discussion 30

5.2 Conclusion 32

5.4 Recommendations for further studies 33

Reference

Appendix