EVALUATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS, ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTION OF THE FRUIT OF THESPESIA POPULNEA (L.) SOL. EX. CORREA

Objectives: To carry out proximate analysis, detect phytochemicals, determine antioxidant activity, total polyphenolic content (TPC) and antimicrobial efficacy of the methanolic extract of the fruit of Thespesia populnea (T. populnea) and further carry out Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) tests for susceptible microorganisms.Methods: The following methods were used: Folin Ciocalteau method for TPC, DPPH radical scavenging assay for in vitro antioxidant activity, agar well diffusion for antimicrobial activity and broth dilution for MIC followed by MBC.Results: The following results were obtained: TPC of 78.12±6.46 mg/g GAE; IC50 value of the radical scavenging activity: 16.29 µg/ml; antibacterial activity-cold extract: excellent to moderate against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Pasteurella multocida, low to no effect against Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae; hot extract: excellent to moderate against S. aureus, P. multocida and E. coli; relatively low to no effect on S. pyogenes, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae.MIC as well as MBC of the hot methanolic extracts of T. populnea were found to be between 0.1-2.5 mg/ml against S. aureus, E. coli and P. multocida whereas those of the cold extract against the same organisms was between 0.005-1.0 mg/ml.Conclusion: The methanolic extract of Thespesia populnea fruit showed excellent antimicrobial activity against some dreaded pathogens besides being an antioxidant in nature. These properties of the fruit can help protect injured and/or infected tissues and hence be used to develop a novel medicinal agent.Â