Phytochemicals and Antimicrobial Activity of Crude Extracts of Fresh Leaves and Stem Bark of Faidherbia albida.

Abstract

The Hausas and Fulanis of Northern Nigeria have a folklore claim about the usage of Faidherbia albida to treat diarrhea, inflamed eyes, skin infections, bleeding, rheumatism, pneumonia, and vomiting. The purpose of this study is to assess the phytochemical and antibacterial activities of crude extracts of fresh leaves and stem bark of Faidherbia albida sourced from Bodeno, Guyuk Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria using appropriate standard techniques after methanol extraction. Data obtained reveals that the stem bark extract contained alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, and quinones but no terpenoids or resins. The extracts of the leaves contained alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, and saponins, but no tannins or resins.  The zone of inhibition of microorganism growth ranged from 9 to 13 mm for the stem bark extract and 11 to 16 mm for the leaf extract. The stem bark extract inhibited Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae more effectively than the leave extract with the exception of Pseudomonas while suppression of Salmonella typhii is same. Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FT-IR) examination of the stem bark extract revealed the following distinctive peaks. The hydroxyl vibrations in alcohol were attributed to 3294.9 cm^-1 and 2930.9 cm^-1, respectively, whereas the peak at 1613.4 cm^-1 displays the distinctive N-H bending of the amino group. The band at 1521.1 cm^-1 represents the N-O stretch of a nitro group, while the band at 1444.0 cm^-1 represents the C=C stretch of an alkene. This study established baseline information on the efficacy of crude extracts of Faidherbia albida.