Phytochemical analysis, mineral composition and antimicrobial activities of ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Morinda lucida against some clinical isolated pathogenic microorganisms: A comparative study

Medicinal plants with antimicrobial activities have been used extensively in the West Africa regions. These plants of medicinal important have been proven to be very effective even where treatments with antibiotics failed. This study was aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of Morinda lucida and Vernonia amygdalina leaves extracts on some pathogenic microorganisms isolated from clinical samples.

Experimental: 

The antimicrobial activities were assayed using the agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated using standard microbiological techniques. Phytochemical and mineral compositions of all the extracts were determined.

Phytochemicals such as saponins, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, anthraquinone and alkaloids were present in both extracts of the plants with alkaloids having a higher percentage. Minerals such as K, Ca, Fe, Na and Fe were presented in appreciable quantities in both extracts of the plants with the K and Ca levels in the ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of Morinda lucida significantly higher than that of V. amygdalina, while Na and Fe levels of Vernonia amygdalina was found to be higher than that of Morinda lucida. Heavy metals like Pb, Cd and As were presented in significant quantities in both extracts of the plants. All the extracts exhibited varying degrees of concentration-based antimicrobial activities against the tested pathogens. Both ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Morinda lucida showed a high significant antifungal activity against Trichophyton sp and Candida sp while the ethanol extract of Vernonia amygdalina showed a high significant antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella sp and Candida sp.

Recommended applications/industries:

 The study provides information on the antimicrobial activities, phytochemical and mineral components of Morinda lucida and Vernonia amygdalina leaves. Also, it contributes to the development of alternative therapeutic agents against the pathogens tested in this study.