Introduction:
Medicinal plants play a significant role in the health maintenance in
underdeveloped countries, herbs and spices continue serve as a new
sources for herbal medicines.
Aim: The objective was to investigate phytochemical screening and
biocidal activity on stem bark Chrysophyllum albidum (Linn) and straw
Aristolochia ringens using chloroform.
Methods: Chloroform extracts of C. albidum and A. ringens were obtained
and screened for phytochemical constituents. The colour intensity or the
precipitate formation was used as analytical responses to these tests.
The Antimicrobial activities crude extracts were evaluated against some
microorganisms with broth microdilution test. The extracts were screened
for in-vitro cytotoxic activity against breast tumour and liver tumour
cells.
Results: The results of the phytochemical screening revealed the
presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids, anthraquinone and glycosides.
C. albidum and A. ringens chloroform extracts revealed high quantities
of alkaloid and flavonoid respectively. While cardiac glycoside and
anthraquinone were found with low quantity in C. albidum and A. ringens
extracts respectively. C. albidum showed promising bacterial activity
against Escherichia coli and cytotoxic activity to liver tumour cells.
While A. ringens, showed excellent bacterial activity against Bacillus
cereus and good fungal activity against Candida albicans. A. ringens
also showed cytotoxic to liver tumour and breast tumour cells. The
observed antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects may be due to the
antagonist or synergistic effect of the secondary metabolites identified
in the extracts.
Conclusion: Medicinal plants studied showed good potential biological
activities that support the idea that traditional medicines remain
useful healthcare in developing countries