ABSTRACT

The antimicrobial activity and phytochemical analysis on the leaves of Carica papaya, Citrus sinensis, Citrus paradisi and Vernonia amygdalina was carried out. The four plant species were found to contain alkaloid, saponin, tannins, flavonoid and phenols in varying proportions. The concentration of the phytochemicals are as follows: alkaloid of paw-paw  (1.11  0.02%), saponins (0.53  0.04%) tannin (0.43  0.4%), flavonoid (0.67  0.01%) and phenols (0.91  0.03%), for grape alkaloid content was (0.31  0.05%), saponins (0.19  0.01%), tannins (0.25  0.01%), flavonoid (0.36  0.02%), phenol (0.52  0.04%) In orange, alkaloid was (0.23  0.01%), saponin (0.23  0.01%), tannin (0.15  0.01%), flavonoid (0.33  0.01), phenol (0.59  0.07%) For bitter leaf, alkaloid (1.31  0.03%), saponin (1.15  0.01%), flavonoid (0.71  0.02%), tannin (0.43  0.01%), phenol (1.15  0.01%). The plant contain more alkaloid than other phytochemical. The anti-microbial activity of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of leaves of the plants were tested against four microorganism. Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella pullorum, Enterobacter aerogenes and Proteus vulgaris. The susceptibility of the microorganisms was determined using the disk diffusion method. The leaf extract of these plants inhibited the growth of these pathogens. The minimum inhibitory concentration was analyzed using agar well diffusion method with values ranging between 50 mg/ml and 200 mg/ml against all the clinical isolates. There were variations in the lowest concentrations of the different plant extracts that caused inhibitions against the various microorganisms.   

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Declaration ii

Certification iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement v

Table of Contents vi

List of Tables viii

List of Figures ix

Abstract x

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1. Aim and Objectives 3

1.2 Justification 3

1.3 Botany of Carica papaya (Paw-Paw) 3

1.4 Botany of Citrus sinensis (Orange) 4

1.5 Botany of Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter leaf) 5

1.6. Botany of Citrus Paradisi (Grape) 6

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Phytochemical Screening of Plants 7

2.2 Antimicrobial Activity of Plants      8

CHAPTER TWO

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHOD 9

3.1 Collection of Plant Materials and Identification 9

3.1.1 Preparation of the Sample for Analysis 9

3.2 Phytochemical Analysis 10

3.2.1 Qualitative Analysis on Leaf Extract 10

3.2.1.1 Test for the Presence of Tannins 10

3.2.1.2 Test for the Presence of Saponins 10

3.2.1.3 Test for the presence of Flavonoids 10

3.2.1.4 Test for the presence of alkaloids 10

3.2.1.5 Test for the Presence of phenols 11

3.3    Quantitative Analysis of Phytochemicals 11

3.3.1    Determination of Tannins 11

3.3.2    Determination of Alkaloid 12

3.3.3 Determination of Saponin 12

3.3.4 Determination of Phenols By Spectrophotometer Methods 13

3.3.5 Determination of flavonoid 14

3.4      Determination of anti- microbial activity 14

3.4.1    Preparation of the plant extracts 14

3.4.2 Sources of pathogen 15

3.4.3 Anti-microbial Test 15

3.4.4 Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration 16

3.4.5 Statistical Analysis 16

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESULT 21

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Discussion 30

5.2 Conclusion and Recommendation 31

References 32