Proximate Analysis, Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) Leaves

Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is known in Africa as the tree of life because there are many traditional uses for every part of it, from the leaves to the roots. This study carried out the proximate analysis of baobab leaves, screened the phytochemicals present and determined the leaves’ aqueous extract antimicrobial activity to suit the traditional way of preparation and use. Phytochemicals screening was carried out on the ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaves. The phytochemicals screened were reducing sugar, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, steroids, resins, phenols, cardiac-active glycosides. The aqueous extract of baobab leaves was tested for its antimicrobial activity against the following organisms; Staphylococcus aureus, Esherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Saimonelle typhi, Klebsiellae pneumonae, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolomifer, Penicillum rotatumat at different concentrations of 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 mg/ml, with water, gentamycin 10 μg/ml(Bacterial), tioconazole70% (fungi) as negative and positive controls respectively. The proximate analysis revealed baobab leaves contain protein (13.6%), fat (2.71`%), sugar(0.01%), ash(4.08%), crude fibre (2.45%), Moisture content(78.2%),Vitamin C (14.98mg/100g). All phytochemicals screened were found to be present. The result showed that the aqueous extract of the baobab leaves was active against the tested organisms except klebsiellae pneumonae. Staphylococcus aureus is more sensitive to the antimicrobial activity of the extract. The aqueous extract displayed broad spectrum effect because it has activities on Grams positive and Grams negative bacteria and fungi.