PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF Nauclea latifolia (AFRICAN PEECH) FRUIT AND LEAF CRUDE EXTRACTS AGAINST SOME PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

The phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of Nauclea latifolia fruit and leaf extractsagainst some pathogenic bacteria were investigated. The phytochemical screening was conductedusing standard qualitative methods. The antibacterial activity was assayed using the agar welldiffusion method. The phytochemical screening of Nauclea latifolia leaf extracts revealedflavonoids, resins and saponins, while fruit extracts indicated the presence of alkaloids,anthraquinones, flavonoids and resins. The test isolates included Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Typhi. TheNauclea latifolia methanol leaf extracts showed greater inhibitory effect against the test organismsat 10 and 20 mg/mL concentration with zones of inhibition ranging from (15.00-21.00 mm) and(28.00-31.00 mm), while methanol fruit extracts recorded zones of inhibition ranging from (11.00-18.00 mm) and (21.00- 27.00 mm) at 10 and 20 mg/mL. The results obtained show that the extractswere more active than ciprofloxacin (positive control) with zones of inhibition ranging from (3.00-6.00 mm) and (8.00-12.00 mm) at 10 and 20 mg/mL. The result has justified their utilization inthe treatment of various ailments associated with the test organisms.