Antibacterial Effect of Methanolic Extract of the Root of Aspilia africana
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Abstract
The leaf of Aspilia Africana (Pers) C.D. Adams (Asteraceae) is widely used in ethno medicinal practices in Tropical Africa because of its ability to stop bleeding and promote rapid healing of wounds. It is also used in the management of problems related to cardiovascular diseases, lumbago, venereal diseases and parasitic infections. This study was carried out on the root part (which has not been very well exploited in ethno medicinal practices) to determine if it is as potent as the leaf part. The methanolic extract of the root was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening and it has indicated the presence of saponins, tannins cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids and carbohydrates. Acute toxicity test showed that it has LD50 of 707.11mg/kg in mice. The in-vitro antibacterial test using agar well diffusion method showed activity against known wound pathogens such as Staphylococcus auerus (clinical isolate), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 8853), Bacillus substiles, Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Escherichia coli (NCTC 10418) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 25922). This indicates that the methanolic extract of the root has potentials for use as antibacterial agent in wound care.
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