ABSTRACT

Essential oils of plants have played great role in the wellbeing of both man and animals. This research project is aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial effect, antioxidant properties, antiinflammatory properties and GC-MS characterization of Acalypha wilkesiana. Acalypha wilkesiana leafwere chopped into smaller sizes and we're air dried. The dried leafwere grinded into fine powder using a grinding machine. It was put in an air tight container, stored in a dessicator for further analysis. Spectroscopic detection by GC-MS involved an electron ionization system which utilized high energy electrons (70 eV). Pure helium gas (99.995%) was used as the carrier gas with flow rate of 1 mL/min. Bioactive compounds extracted from different extracts were identified based on GC retention time on HP-5MS column and matching ofthe spectra with computer software data ofstandards (Replib and Mainlab data of GC-MS systems). The test organisms used to determine the antimicrobial potentials of Acalypha wilkesiana were Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcusfaecalis and Escherichia coli. The antibacterial activities ofthe extracts against the test bacteria were evaluated by modified disc diffusion methods. The result ofthe GC-MS analysis ofthe essential oil ofAcalypha wilkesiana showed that there were significant (p<0.05) difference in all the parameters of the identified bioactive compounds. Retention time ranged from 6.301 to 31.380 minutes while peak area ranged from 0.98 to 7.66%. The result of the mean inhibition zone diameter ofthe extract against the test organisms showed that there was a significant (p<0.05) difference ranging from 0.00 to 19.83 mm. The result of the antiinflammatory properties ofthe extract showed that there was a significant (p<0.05) difference with % albumin inhibition ranging from 40.33 to 70.50 %, % Heat induction inhibition ranging from 34.53 to 47.21 %, % proteinase inhibition ranged from 31.78 to 53.60 % and % lipoxygenase inhibition ranged from 29.90 to 41.36 %. Though Aspirin showed greater antiinflammatory potential than the extract at all concentration levels used in this study. Finally, the essential oil of leaf extract has shown to have great antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory potentials.