Preliminary Phytochemistry and Anti-Microbial Activity of Malachra Capitata Plant

Methanolic, Chloroform and Benzene  extract of the leaves of  Malachra Capitata was screened for its phytochemical and antibacterial properties on E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes at varying concentrations. The Agar gel diffusion method was used to assay for the antibacterial properties on the test isolate. The results showed that the methanolic  extracts at different concentrations inhibited the growth of E. coli and L monocytogenes. The concentration of 50mg/ml inhibited the isolate with highest diameter zone of inhibition ranging from 1mm to 11mm. The extracts inhibited the growth of the bacterial isolate in a concentration dependent manner with MICs 10mg/ml. Phytochemical analysis of the leaf extracts revealed the presence of antimicrobial active agents such as alkaloids, Carbohydrates, Flavonoids and saponin. These established a good support to the use of this plant in herbal medicine and as base for the development of new drugs and phytomedicine.