PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL ANALYSIS OF ISOBERLINIA TOMENTOSA STEM BARK EXTRACTS
Abstract
This study investigates the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of the stem bark extracts of Isoberlinia tomentosa, a plant traditionally used in African medicine. The stem bark was collected, dried, and extracted using methanol, yielding a dark brown, gummy extract with a 24.8% yield. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as carbohydrates, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, and cardenolides, while alkaloids, saponins, and anthraquinone glycosides were absent. The antimicrobial activity of the methanol extract was assessed using the disc diffusion method against selected microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans. The extract demonstrated significant inhibitory effects, with the highest activity observed against Candida albicans and Bacillus subtilis. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) tests confirmed the extract's potent antimicrobial action, particularly at higher concentrations. The findings validate the traditional medicinal use of Isoberlinia tomentosa for treating microbial infections and highlight its potential as a source of natural antimicrobial agents. Further research is recommended to isolate and characterize the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed activities and to explore their therapeutic applications.
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