Anti-microbial activities and phytochemical screening of aqueous fruit pulp extracts of <i>Azanza garckeana</i> (F.Hoffm.)

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial activities and phytochemical components of aqueous fruit pulp extracts of Azanza garckeana (F. Hoffm). The fruit of Azanza garckeana was obtained from Tula, Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State from which crude fruit pulp extract was prepared. The treatment for the antimicrobial studies consisted of three different concentrations of the crude extract of A. garckeana (1000 mg/ml, 500mg/ml and 200mg/ml) while Ketoconazole served as the positive control. All treatments were replicated three times. Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used to test the antimicrobial activity of the extract. Fruit pulp extract of A. garckeana inhibited the growth of both bacteria with the 1000 mg/ml treatment having the highest zone of inhibition of 8.00 mm in E. coli and 9.00 mm in S. aureus. However, fungi were resistant in all the treatments with no zone of inhibition recorded. From the statistical analysis, there was a significant difference at p < 0.01 in the zone of inhibition between the treatments and the control in both bacteria. Quantitative phytochemistry also revealed that saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides and phenols were all present in the crude fruit extract. It is recommended that A. garckeana crude fruit pulp extracts can be used as an alternate to synthetic antibacterial drugs. Further research should be carried out to investigate the toxic effect of the fruit as well as to monitor its effective dosages using laboratory animals as well as human clinical trials.