PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF SENNA ALEXANDRINA MILL. EXTRACT
Abstract
This study investigated the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract from the aerial parts of Senna alexandrina Mill. collected from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. The aim was to provide scientific validation for its traditional medicinal uses. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, and phenols. However, free and combined anthraquinones were absent. The antimicrobial efficacy of the extract was evaluated against Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Gram-negative) using the agar well diffusion method. The results demonstrated significant, dose-dependent antimicrobial activity, with higher sensitivity observed in Klebsiella pneumoniae. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values were determined to be 12.5 mg/mL for Bacillus subtilis and 25 mg/mL for Klebsiella pneumoniae. The findings confirm that the aerial parts of Senna alexandrina are rich in bioactive compounds with notable antimicrobial properties, thereby supporting its ethnomedicinal use. This study recommends further isolation of the active compounds, toxicological studies, and testing against a broader range of multidrug-resistant pathogens.
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