A contribution to the phytochemical and antibacterial characteristics of Crinum macowanii bulbs extracts

M.Tech. (Biotechnology)Abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014 indicated that about 80% of the world’s population depend on medicinal plants for their primary health care, due to accessibility, affordability and cultural significance. However, issues such as extinction due to cultivation and lack of scientific validation of the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants through phytochemical and pharmacological screening hinder the sustainability and conversion of medicinal plants into a commodity of high value. Crinum macowanii Baker is a plant belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family under the genus Crinum. The species from the genus occurr world-wide in America, Africa, and southern Asia to Australia, with Africa having the most species. Crinum macowanii Baker grows in many habitats like grasslands, beside rivers and along the coast and in various types of soil. The plant has a deciduous bulb, with fleshy roots and bright green to bluish green leaves and large white lilies with dark pink stripes. The flower produces about 20 to 80 small seeds that appear as smooth, pale green to silvery and fleshy. The bulbs are 6-25 cm in diameter. The flowers have a heavy scent and are normally 4-20 cm and with pedicels up to 6.5 cm long. Traditionally, C. macowanii has been used for different applications in humans and animals since its known to possess medicinal properties. Crinum macowanii is used traditionally as a remedy for the treatment of boils, diarrhoea, fever, inflammation, respiratory system problems, skin rashes, tuberculosis, wounds and urinary tract problems. The bulbs are also used to increase lactation in women and cows. such indicates that the plant has phytochemicals which explains its continued used. The plant has shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. A number of alkaloids have been isolated from the plant which cannot all account for the biological uses of the plant and therefore this study was done to investigate the phytochemicals present in the plant and its antibacterial activity. Crinum macowanii bulbs were purchased from Faraday Muti Market in Johannesburg South Africa. The bulbs were subjected to solvent extraction and pressurized hot water extraction. The solvent extraction produced the highest yield as compared to the pressurized hot water extracts..