ABSTRACT

The antimicrobial effect of Alchornea laxiflora on some pathogens was investigated using the disc diffusion method. Ethanol and water were used as solvent for extraction. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, favonoids, saponins, phenol, hydrogen cyanide (HCN). All the test organisms were susceptible at concentration greater than and equal to 100mg/ml with varied zones of inhibition ranging from 3mm to 13mm on the ethanolic extract. Also for the aqueous extract, all the test organisms were susceptible at concentration greater than and equal to 100mg/ml with varied zones of inhibition ranging from 2mm to 11mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ethanol extract are (50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml, 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml) for Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Shigella species and Candida albicans respectively while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the aqueous extract of Alchornea laxiflora are (100mg/ml, 150 mg/ml 100mg/ml and 150mg/ml) for Salmonella spp., E. coli, Shigella species and Candida albicans respectively. The antimicrobial activity showed that microbial growth was inhibited by the ethanol and aqueous extract with the ethanol extract having more significant inhibitory effect. The research work demonstrated that ethanolic and aqueous extract of  Alchornea laxiflora  has potential for therapeutic uses.