ABSTRACT

The phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of the leaves and stems of Phyllanthus amarus and Moringa oleifera were investigated. The ethanol extracts were used for antimicrobial assay against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Aspergillus niger. The phytochemical inve st igation showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoid, saponins, tannins, phenol, steroids and an th ocyanin in all plant parts extracts. Obtained results showed that the plants contain many different phytochemicals of varying concentrations. Alkaloid content varied from 0.27% P. amarus stem to 0. 71% M. oleifera leaf, flavonoid content varied from 0.53% P. amarus stem to 1.13% M. oleifera leaf, Saponin varied from 0.13% P, amarus stem to 0.56% M oleifera leaf, tannin content varied from 0.06% M. oleifera stem to 0.53% M. oleifera leaf, phenol content varied from 0.33% P. amarus stem to 0.83% P. amarus leaf, steroid content varied from 0.28% M oleifera stem to 0.59% M. oleifera leaf and anthocyanin content varied from 0.11 % M oleifera stem to 0.29% P. amarus leaf. The antimicrobial result showed that the plants parts extracts possessed antimicrobial properties. M. oleifera leaf recorded 13.33 mm and had the highest growth inhibition compared to M. oleifera stem with 9.33 mm against S aureus. M. oleifera leaf recorded 16.33 mm and had the highest growth inhibition compared to P. amarus stem with l 0.3 mm against E. coli. M. oleifera leaf recorded l 0.67 mm and had M. oleifera leaf the highest growth inhibition compared to M. oleifera stem with 0.00 mm against 4.niger. P. amarus leaf had the highest growth inhibition on S. aureus against other extracts with 11.67 mm while the control drug used was highly significant than P. amarus leaf and stem with 13.67 mm. M oliefera leaf also had the highest growth inhibition on E. coli against other extracts with 15.00 mm while the control drugs was highly significant than M oleifera leaf with 16.33 mm. M. oleifera leaf and stem had the inhibition growth on A. niger against other extract with 8.67 mm while the control drug used was highly significant than M oleifera leaf with 7.67 mm. M. oleifera leaf had the highest growth inhibition on S. aureus against other extracts with 13.67 mm while the control drug used was highly significant than M. oleifera leaf with 19.33 mm M. oleifera leaf had the highest growth inhibition on E. coil against other extracts with 16.33 mm while the control drug used was highly significant than M. oleifera leaf with 22.67 mm. M. oleifera leaf had the highest growth inhibition on A niger against other extracts with I 0.6 7 mm while the control drug used was highly significant than M. oleifera leaf with 16.67 mm. The results of this research provides supportive evidence for the used of these plants in tradition medicine to treat various infectious diseases but cannot be compared with the control drugs which are more effective