Antibacterial Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Acalypha wilkesiana (Copperleaf) Leaf Extract on Some Clinical Isolates

Ethanolic extract of fresh leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana was screened for its phytochemical and invitro antibacterial properties on four clinical isolates Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli , Shigella sp , and Klebsiella pneumonia. The disc diffusion technique was used to assay for the antimicrobial properties. The results showed that the extract of concentrations between 50mg/ml to 200mg/ml inhibit the growth of all test organisms. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determined by tube dilution method were 150mg/ml for Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia, 100mg/ml for Escherichia coli and Shigella sp respectively, while the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) determined using the media dilution technique showed that at 200mg/ml Escherichia coli and Shigella sp were killed. The phytochemical screening of the leaf extract revealed the presence of Saponins, Tannins, Alkaloids, Phlobatins, Phenolics and Cardiac Glycosides. Some of which may have contributed to the observed anti-bacterial activity. Keyword: Acalypha wilkesiana, Antibacterial, Phytochemical, Susceptibility *Corresponding author