Abstract

Ekpiken Solomon Ekpiken*, Ubong S. Ekong, Sylvanus Akpak Upula, Ibiang Arikpo Oka and Mercy Okon Ekong

ABSTRACT

Xylopia aetthiopica has varying pharmacological potencies as well as antibacterial activities against bacterial pathogens including Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Klebsiella pnuemoniae. This present study was conducted to determine the antibacterial activities of leaves extracts of X. aethiopica against some Enterobacteriaceae species and identify bioactive constituents with therapeutic potentials present in the plant extract. Standard techniques were used in crude extraction followed by phytochemical screening. Findings revealed that Xylopia aethiopica leaves was found to contain flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. Antibacterial activities showed that ethanol and aqueous leaves extracts possessed inhibitory effects on Salmonella spp, E. coli and K. pneumoniae that ranged 12.5±0.5 mm to 15.0±0.0 mm, 8.0±0.0 mm to 16.5±0.5 mm and 10.0±0.0 mm to 13.0±0.0 mm respectively and 10.0±0.0 mm to 15.0±0.0 mm, 8.0±0.0 mm to 16.5±0.5 mm and 10.0±0.0 mm to 20.0±0.0 mm respectively. Resistance with no zone of inhibition was observed with Salmonella spp and E. coli at 62.5 mg/mL in ethanol leaves extracts. The bioactive compounds in ethanol leaves extract of X. aethiopica determined using GC-MS revealed the presence of 106 compounds including their corresponding percentage concentrations in a chromatogram. The major phytoconstituents are 6-(1'-Oxo-2'-propenyl)-1,3-cis,cis –cyclooctadiene, 2,6,11-Dodecatrienal, 2,6-dimethyl-10-methylene-, 3-Tetradecen-5-yne, (Z)-, Z,Z-3,11-Octadecadien-1-ol acetate. The results obtained are promising and a pointer to the possible use of X. aethiopica as antibacterial remedies.