Antimicrobial Potentials of Diospyros soubraeana (Ebenaceae)

Abstract

The petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts of the leaf, stem bark and root of Diospyros soubraeana were studied for their antimicrobial activities.  The crude extracts showed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against six (6) Gram – positive bacterial, six (6) Gram – negative bacterial and two (2) fungal strains.  Comparative antimicrobial activity of extracts from the three extracting solvents revealed that petroleum ether extract of the root had the greatest activity on the organisms followed by methanol and then chloroform.  Some tetracyclines and ampicillin resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and gentamicin resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were sensitive to some of the extract tested.  Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of the anthraquinones, tannin, steroidal nucleus, saponin glycoside, cardenolides, sugar while volatile oils and alkaloids were absent except traces of alkaloids in only the leaf.

The antimicrobial activities observed are discussed in relation to the preliminary phytochemical screening and chemical constituents reportedly isolated from several species of this plant and their traditional uses.