Antibacterial activities of total alkaloids extracted from some medicinal plants

The aim of the present study is to explore secondary metabolites, total alkaloids extraction and antibacterial activities of crude alkaloids extracted from Detarium microcarpum, Ximenia americana and Guiera senegalensis according to standard protocol. The results of phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids and terpenoids while the results of total alkaloids extraction showed that all the plants contained similar alkaloids content. The crude alkaloids extract was screened for antibacterial effect and the results showed that alkaloids of Guiera senegalensis and Detarium microcarpum exhibited higher activities against all the test microbes with zones of inhibition diameter ranging from 25-36.6 mm while crude alkaloids of Ximenia americana showed moderate activity that ranges from 17-25 mm. The results of minimum inhibitory concentration showed that alkaloids of Guiera senegalensis and Detarium microcarpum gave MIC ranging from 301-1560 μg/cm3 against E. coli, Streptococcus P. aeruginosa and S. aureus respectively while alkaloids of Ximenia americana gave MIC values ranging from 620-2500 μg/cm3 against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, Streptococcus and E coli. The results of MBC also followed similar pattern with Detarium microcarpum alkaloids having the lowest MBC of 301 μg/cm3. The results of these study showed that crude alkaloids found in the three plants investigated could be used as broad spectrum antibiotic for the treatment of diseases caused by these microbes