Phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of the fruit pulp of Canarium schweifurthii (ATILE)

Abstract

From the phytochemical screening that was carried out, the methanolic extract revealed the presence of saponins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides and carbonhydrates, tannins and flavonoids. n-hexane extract revealed the presence of steroids and glycosides, while saponins, terpenoids, tannins, carbonhydrates and flavonoids were absent. Chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts revealed the presence of terpenoids, tannins, steroids, glycosides, carbonhydrates and flavonoids. Alkaloids had the highest percentage (14.4%) and oxalate had the lowest percentage (1.06%). The antimicrobial screening indicates that methanolic extract was active against E. coli (37mm) and Klebsilla pneumonia (32mm). It was inactive against against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeroginosaand Salmonella typhii. n-hexane and Chloroform extracts were inactive against all the bacteria used. Ethyl acetate extract was active against Bacillus subtilis (12mm), E. coli (27mm), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (21mm), Klebsilla pneumonia (28mm) and Salmonella typhii (22mm). The important of the plant in traditional medicine were discussed with respect to the role of this plant in ethnomedicine in Nigeria.