Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Oil Extracts from the Seeds of Ricinodendron heudelotii

Objective: The aim of this project is to extract the chemical components of various parts of this tree and to characterize the constituents of these extracts and to test for their biological activity. Methodology: Agar-well diffusion assay was used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the oil extract on the test isolates: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and the yeast Candida albicans. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for each test organism was determined by the broth dilution method using 0.5 McFarland’s standard. Results: Preliminary proximate and phytochemical analysis of the oil extracts from the seed showed the presence of the following minerals, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn as well as the following family of compounds: Steroids, saponin and terpenoids. Antimicrobial and antibacterial studies also revealed that the oil extract was active against Gram’s negative and positive bacteria and fungi. The test organisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and the yeast Candida albicans. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to the oil extract at all the concentrations used. Conclusion: Amongst the bacteria used, highest MIC of 150 mg mLG1 was recorded for Staphylococcus aureus , while lowest MIC of 50 mg mLG1 was observed in E. coli . Highest activity was observed against the fungus, Candida albicans with MIC of 25 mg mLG