The antibacterial effect of the leaf extract of buchhozia coriacea

Abstract: This study was aimed at determining the antibacterial effect of the leaf extract of Buchholzia coriacea (Wonderful Kola) on nasal isolates. Nasal isolates were collected from one hundred students of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwash-uku, Delta State. The antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extract of the leaves was assessed against nasal isolated microorganisms (E.coli, Citrobacter species, Klebsiella species, and Proteus species) using the agar well diffusion method. Inhibition zones and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) were used as indicators of antimicrobial activity. The extracts inhibited the growth of the bacterial isolates in a concentration dependent manner with MICs of 39.81mg/ml, 69.18mg/ml, 79.43mg/ml and 97.7mg/ml (E. coli, Citrobacter species, Klebsiella species and Proteus species) respectively. Phytochemical screening reveals the presence of secondary metabolites; tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, purines, reducing sugars, flavonoids, steroids, alkalloids and phlobatannins. The result indicates promising antibacterial potential of B. coriacea leaf extracts and hence could be considered for pharmaceutical and medicinal purposes. Characterization of the bioactive components of B. coriacea leaves could be used in the development of drugs for the treatment of bacterial related infections.

Keywords: Bochholzia coriacea, Antibacterial effect, Leaf Extract, Traditional medicine.