Quantitative Phytochemical and Antibacterial Efficacy of Fractions of Terminalia microptera Leaf

Quantitative phytochemical analysis, solvent partitioning and agar well diffusion methods were employed to determine the phytoconstituents, fractions and antibacterial activity of the crude extract of T. microptera leaf respectively. Results obtained reveals the presence of phenols, tannins, alkaloids and saponins at a concentration of 481.75±0.17, 70.52±1.62, 541.00±0.61 and 2.13±0.32 mg/g respectively while flavonoid was not detected. Three fractions with corresponding yield of 1.67% (chloroform fraction), 24.39% (ethyl acetate fraction) and 52.17% (aqueous fraction) were obtained from the crude extract. Chloroform fraction was active on three Gram negative organisms (S. typhi, S. paratyphi A, B and C) with zones of inhibition ranging from 10.00±1.15 to 12.33±0.33mm while ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions were active on all the tested organisms with zones of inhibition ranging from 11.33±0.67 to 16.33±0.67mm and 14.33±0.33 to 16.33±1.00mm respectively. Considering the antimicrobial activity of the crude fractions as reported by previous studies, it can therefore be concluded that the fractions might be less active at their partially purified state and may exert considerable activity in their combined state or may be bacteriostatic in activity when applied for the control and treatment of infections caused by the test organisms.