COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF EXTRACT OF THE LEAF AND BARK OF ALTONIA CONGENSIS (MILK WOOD)

Abstract In recent years, there has been a growing interest in plant-based antimicrobials due to the alarming rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The increasing failure of conventional antibiotics has prompted the exploration alternative sources of antimicrobial agent particularly from natural products like medicinal plants. The present study was undertaken to investigate the comparative phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of the extract of the leaf and bark of Alstonia congensis. They leaf and bark were air-dried and made into powder. About 100g of each powder was extracted in 300ml of ethanol and water. The extracts were tested for phytochemical and antibacterial activity. The antibacterial activity was done against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Phytochemical analysis of extract showed the presence alkaloid, flavonoid, phenol, saponin, tanins for both extracts. Glycoside was absent in the bark while terpenoid was absent in the leaf, steroid was absent in both. The ethanolic and aqueos extract produced significant antibacterial activity against all test organisms with Gram positive organisms appearing more sensitive than the Gram negative organisms. This plants promises to be a good source of medicines.