Antimicrobial Activity of Ethanolic and Methanolic Extracts of Borassus aethiopiumInitial Shoot on Multi-drug Resistant Bacteria and Dermatophytes

Aim: To examine the phytochemical properties and chemical profile of the methanol and ethanol extracts of the initial shoot of Borassus aethiopium and to evaluate its antimicrobial activity on selected multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria and dermatophytes.

Place and Duration of study: Sampling was done from Plateau State, Nigeria, while the analysis was done at the Federal College of Forestry and National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, Plateau State Nigeria between August and December 2017.

Methodology: The chemical profile of B. aethiopium was determined using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Phytochemical analysis was performed to confirm the bioactive components present while the antimicrobial activity was determined using agar well diffusion method using Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum as the test organisms. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined.

Results: All test organisms were susceptible to both the extracts of B. aethiopium. Klebsiella pneumoniae was found to be most susceptible (33 mm) in the methanolic extract and Staphylococcus aureus as the most susceptible (31mm) in the ethanolic extract while Epidermophyton floccosum was the least susceptible of both the extracts (19mm; 20mm). Methanolic extract of B. aethiopium showed the lowest MIC on the test organisms compared to the ethanolic extract. The difference in the chemical composition of the extracts obtained was Tridecanoic acid, Valeric acid, 14-Octadecenoic acid, Heneicosanic acid, Erucic acid, and Oxacyclotetradecane for the methanol extract and Dodecanoic acid, Undecanoic acid, Docosanoic acid, Oleic acid, 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)- and 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid for the ethanol extract. Bioactive components present in B. aethiopium extracts (%) were saponins 14.40; 6.45, flavonoids 24.20; 12.40, cardiac glycosides 13.55; 8.20, steroids 6.11; 4.12, alkaloids 5.00; 2.00, terpenoid 12.50; 11.80 and tannins 1.20; 0.05.

Conclusion: The initial shoot of B. aethiopium has the potential as a source of antimicrobial essential to the pharmaceutical industries. However, the toxicological analysis is recommended to assess the toxicity and safety on sensitive organs of the animals.