Antibacterial activity of Adansonia digitata stem bark extracts on some clinical bacterial isolates

Abstract

Powdered stem bark of Adansonia digitata (L.) was extracted with ethanol and chloroform using percolation method and Sohxlet extractor. The extracts were tested for antimicrobial activity against clinical bacterial isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus specie using disc diffusion and microbroth dilution technique. The extracts were further screened for the presence of secondary metabolites using standard techniques. Results of sensitivity test using both procedures showed that ethanol extracts of the plant were more active than chloroform extract on the isolates tested irrespective of the method of extraction employed. The results of phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, steroids and tannins in either or both extracts. This indicates that Adansonia digitata root bark has the potential for the production of drugs against some clinical bacterial isolates.