PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF ACALYPHA WILKESIANA (RED ACALYPHA) EXTRACTS IN SOME SELECTED SKIN PATHOGENS

ABSTRACT The study investigated the antimicrobial activities of Acalypha wilkesiana (Red acalypha) extracts in some selected skin pathogens. The plant leaves were collected, dried under shade, pulverized and extracted respectively with distilled water, hexane and methanol (in soxhlet extractor apparatus). The respective crude extracts were concentrated using a rotary evaporator and phytochemical screening was performed using standard methods. Isolation of oil from hexane extract was done using chromatographic column while characterization was done using Tin Layer chromatography. The result indicated the presence of some secondary metabolites like The presence of secondary metabolites such as glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, eugenol, steroids, terpenes and alkaloids in the extract. The antimicrobial analysis revealed zones of inhibition at a concentration of 1000mg/ml for: Klebsiella, Streptococcus, Escheriia coli, Pseudomonas aereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi for the crude extracts. It was inactive for ethylacetate extract against : Klebsiella .The study revealed that A.wilkesiana extracts contains bioactive constituents with high antimicrobial activity against skin microflora germs and could potentially possess rich medicinal values when subjected to further chemical and pharmacological studies thus, the use of the plant in traditional treatment of skin bacteria by decoction baths.