Phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of Hyptis specigera Lam leaves.

Abstract

The phvtochemical screening of the hexane, chloroform and Ethanol extracts of Hyptis specigera leaves revealed the presence of the following plant constituents; alkaloids, saponms. flavonoids. tannins, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, as well as carbohydrates. Antimicrobial screening of these extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli. Shigella spp, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa indicated that hexane extract had inhibitor)' effects on two or more test pathogens while ithanol extracts showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration of the crude extracts were determined for the various organisms using the broth dilution method. The MIC and MBC of the extracts ranged from 1.56- 15 mg/ml and 6.25-25 mg/ml respectively. The results from the activity of the crude extracts suggests that Hyptis specigera Lam leaves could be used in the treatment of diseases caused by these organisms.