PLANTS THAT HAVE
ANTIMICROBIAL AND
THEIR PHTOCHEMICALS
Etsy
Stool wood(Nyame Dua)
Alstonia boonei De wild is a major spice crop grown abundantly in Ghana and other
tropical countries. In this study we have carried out phytochemical analysis and
antimicrobial investigation of ethanol and aqueous extracts of the root of Alstonia
boonei against a panel of clinically significant bacterial and fungal strains. Four Gram
positive and Gram negative bacteria namely Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were subjected to test the
antimicrobial activity along with one fungi namely, Candida albicans. The ethanol
and aqueous extracts of root of Alstonia boonei were subjected to microbial
susceptibility assays using agar well diffusion method. Phytochemical screening was
done to test the presence of phytochemicals responsible for the antimicrobial
potential of roots of Alstonia boonei. The results of the phytochemical studies
revealed the presence alkaloids, cyanogenetic glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids and
steroids and saponins. Susceptibility testing by disc diffusion assay revealed
significant antimicrobial activity of methanol and aqueous extracts of the roots
against the pathogens tested. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the
various extracts by Agar Dilution method ranged from 3.0 to 10.0 mg/ml. The
ethanol extracts exhibited better antimicrobial activity than aqueous extract. The
study findings provide supportive evidence for the use of Alstonia boonei in
traditional medicines.
• Aframomum melegueta (grains of paradise) is a herbaceous plant of West Africa, locally used
as a spice and to treat common ailments like diarrhea, painful arthritis, snake bite, and
scorpion sting. Various parts of the plant like stem, leaves, and roots have various
phytochemicals like flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, phenolic compounds, alkaloids cardiac
glycosides, and saponins that give alligator pepper a great medicinal value. These
phytochemicals exert anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidants,
and hepatoprotective effects.
• Antibacterial activity of Aframomum melegueta was tested on salmonella spp, Escherichia coli, Shigella
spp and klebsiella spp. Ethanol and distilled water were used as solvents for the extraction of the plant.
The ethanolic extract was found to be most effective at high concentration of 50mg/ml on all the
isolates. The zones of inhibition of klebsiella spp, salmonella spp, E. coli and Shigella spp are
30mm,15mm,20mm,and 15mm respectively with ethanolic extract. The aqueous extract was found to
be less effective when compared with ethanolic extract. The phytochemcial analysis carried out on
Aframomum melegueta revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponin, steroids,
cardiacglycoside, flavonoid, terpenoids and phenol. The presence of these phytochemcials support the
use of this plant as antimicrobial agent. Aframomum melegueta can therefore be used as antimicrobial
Moririga oleifera(moringa)
• The aim of the present study was to find out antibacterial property of Moringa oleifera,
family Moringaceae. Moringa oleifera is a very useful tree in tropical countries. In
ayurvedic all parts of the tree used in different healing procedures for different diseases.
The plant leaves are very good nutrient supplement for malnutrition and also used as an
antibiotic. To evaluate the antibacterial activity of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts,
Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris,
Streptococcus mutans, Bacillus subtilus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria were
used. Phytochemical analysis of the leaf in solvents of varying polarity; viz., aqueous,
ethanol were also carried out. The phytochemical screening indicated the presence of
flavonoids, tannins, steroid, alkaloid, saponins etc., in the both extracts. Well diffusion
method was used to assess the antibacterial effect of the extracts on micro-organisms.
The ethanolic and aqueous extract were active against all strains but the ethanol leaf
extract showed maximumactivity against Streptococcus mutantandaqueous extract
shows maximum activity against Proteus vul
Psidium guajava(guava)
• The increasing menace of antimicrobial resistance in many pathogenic microbes has led to the search for long lasting
• remedy. The aim of this study was to examine the phytochemical and antimicrobial properties of extracts of Psidium
• guajava leaves against some clinical bacterial isolates. The plant leaves were extracted in three solvents namely;
• water, ethanol and methanol. The pathogenic bacterial isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli,
• Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae all isolated from urine samples. The
• phytochemical analysis showed the presence tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and terpenoids in
• different proportions. The mean antibacterial activity of the extracts in vitro showed that the ethanolic extract was
• most efficacious at 25 mg concentration, inhibiting P. aeruginosa (9.50 mm), E. coli (9.00 mm), S. pneumoniae (10.50
• mm) and K. pneumoniae (9.50 mm). The aqueous extract at 100 mg concentration inhibited E. coli (12.50 mm), S.
• aureus (14.50 mm) and S. pneumoniae (9.00 mm). This study has revealed that the leaves extract of P. guajava
• contains antibacterial and phytochemical substances which can be harnessed in satiation of human quest for better
• and healthier living.
• Keywords: Psidium guajava; Plant extracts; Phyto
Chromolaena odorata(bitter leaf)
• The chronic bed ridden patients
acquire infections are the main
source of alarming morbidity and
mortality as their correlation with
fomites. Fomites are reservoirs of
drug-resistant pathogens found in
the unhygienic clinical
environment, which can infect
Carica papaya
• The Carica papaya plant materials such as leaf, fruit (and seed) were collected and allowed to
drying in dark place and
• ground in electric chopper. The powdered plant materials were filled separately in the thimble
and extracted successively
• using a soxhlet extractor with distilled water, acetone, chloroform and ethanal. All the extracts
were subjected to systematic
• phytochemical screening for the presence of phytochemical contituents. This indicates the
presence carbohydrates, protein,
• vitamin C, tannin,alkaloids, flavanoids, steroids and saponin. Antimicrobial activities of all the
extract were determined by
• well diffusion method. In this observation, the leaf of Carica papaya exhibits significant
inhibitory activity against all test
• pathogens, in all plant material, ethanol extracts showed maximum activity. The fruit sample
was further studied by FT-IR, it
• shown 18 functional groups compounds in between the spectra 400-4000 nm.
Zingiber officiuale
•Antibiotic resistance in every corner of
the planet is growing to dangerously
high levels. New mechanisms of
resistance are emerging and spreading
globally which threatens our ability to
treat common infectious diseases. Many
scientists documented some plants
• This chapter explores the botanical characteristics, traditional uses, culinary applications, and medicinal properties of
the medicinal spice, Afromomum melegueta [Roscoe.] K. Schum., Zingiberaceae (Guinea pepper or Grain of Paradise).
The herbaceous plant is part of the cultural identity and heritage of West Africa where it is considered to have
originated and has been used and cultivated for centuries and plays vital roles in traditional medicine, rituals, and
ceremonies of various Indigenous cultures in the region and other parts of the world. A. melegueta is also cultivated in
parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and some regions of Oceania. It was one of the
valuable commodities exchanged along with other spices, such as black pepper and cardamom, through the trans-
Saharan trade routes. Some of the culinary uses and applications of A. melegueta include spice, flavor enhancer, distilled
spirit, baking, seasoning blend, craft brewing, and condiments. The herbal medicinal value, distinctive aroma, and
fragrance of the plant are attributed to phytochemical constituents such as essential oils (like myristicin, limonene, beta-
caryophyllene, and pinene), fatty acids, terpenoids, tannins, glycosides, steroids, carotenoids, phenols, alkaloids,
flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals. Some ethnomedicinal uses of the plant seed (oil and extract) include digestive aid,
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties, weight reduction and management, pain relief, respiratory health,
antimicrobial, stomach upset, aphrodisiac, and fever reduction. However, further pharmacognostic and clinical research
is required to verify the ethnomedical benefits of the plants. Business opportunities abound in the cultivation,
processing and packaging, export and import, culinary ventures, health and wellness products, and fair trade initiative
aspects of the plant. As global interest in spice continues to grow, it is essential to prioritize sustainable cultivation
practices, fair trade, and phytomedical exploration of vital medicinal spices like A. melegueta to ensure its long-term
availability, conservation, sustainable utilization, and benefit to local communities.
Phytochemical compounds
and antimicrobial activity of
Cyperus rotundus and Typha
latifolia reeds plants from
Western Kenya, which are
used in management and
treatment of various ailments,
were determined. Samples
were collected from Lugari
region of Western Kenya.
Solvent extraction using ethyl
