The preliminary screening of phytochemical constituents of extracts of Xylopia
aethiopica was evaluated. The n-hexane extract revealed the presence of
terpenoids, alkaloids, and steroids, while the presence of alkaloids,
terpenoids, saponins, steroids, and phenolics was indicated in ethyl acetate
extract, and the methanol extract contained tannins, flavonoids, phenolics,
terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, steroids. The medicinal property of the
extracts was investigated using in-vitro antimicrobial assays. The hexane
extract indicates potent activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MIC of
100mg/ml and ZI of 20 mm. Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts had inhibitory
activities against Candida albican with MIC of 100mg/ml while the standard
antibiotics have no inhibitory activities against Candida albican suggesting that
these extracts contain certain phytochemical that are active against Candida
albican. Saponins which are constituents of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts
from the phytochemical screening are known to be antifungal, especially
against Candida albican. This suggests that the presence of saponins in both
ethyl acetate and methanol extracts may be responsible for the inhibitory
activities against Candida albican.
Keywords: Xylopia aethiopica stem bark, Antimicrobial, Phytochemical,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albican