Seeds of Monodora myristica was investigated for its antimicrobial, nutritional and phytochemical properties. Results of the study, shows that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the seeds, were active against both gram negative and gram positive organisms used. Important bioactive constituents found to be present in the extracts were alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, and phenolic compounds. Yield extracts of the powdered seeds, was for water 7.94% and ethanol 12.5%, indicating that ethanol was the better of the two solvents used. Results of the antibacterial activity of the extracts reveal that the ethanolic extracts at different concentrations were more active against the test organisms namely Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi than the aqueous extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the aqueous extract ranged between 2.5 and 3.0 mg/ml while that for ethanolic extract was between 2.5 and 3.5 mg/ml. The minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) values for aqueous extract ranged between 3.0 and 3.5 mg/ml while that for ethanolic extract ranged between 3.5 and 4.0 mg/ml. Nutritionally result from the study justifies the use of the seed as both a spice and food component by locals. The seed was particularly found to be very rich in potassium and magnesium. There is therefore the need for further studies on the active components of the seeds of Monodora myristica so as to maximize its medicinal and nutritional potential.
The leaves of two medicinal plants namely; Morinda lucida and Nauclea latifolia were investigated for their antibacterial, mineral and phytochemical properties. Results of the study showed that the aqueous and ethanolic extract of the two leaves had significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes and Proteus mirabilis. The biologically active constituents present in the extracts were cardiac glycosides, tannins, saponin, coumarins, reducing sugar, terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids and flavonoids. The percentage yield extracts of the respective plants were Morinda lucida leaves 12.9% for ethanol and 9.0% for aqueous extracts while Nauclea latifolia had 12.1% for ethanol and 8.4% for aqueous extracts. Results of the antibacterial activity analysis revealed that the ethanolic extracts of the two medicinal plants at different concentrations were more active against the test organisms named above than the aqueous extracts. The MIC values for the ethanolic extracts ranged between 25.0 and 100.0 mg/ml while that of aqueous extract ranged between 50.0 and 100.0 mg/ml. The MBC values for ethanolic extract ranged between 50.0 and 100mg/ml while that of aqueous extracts also ranged between 50.0 and 100mg/ml. Analysis of the mineral content of the plant leaves shows that they were rich in potassium and calcium. This study confirms that the leaf extracts have some reasonable level of antimicrobial activity and appreciable amounts of mineral content which could be beneficial to human health. The findings from this work can be further exploited for isolation and characterization of novel Phytochemical compounds which could be used in the treatment of infectious diseases especially in light of the emergence of drug-resistant microorganisms and the need to produce new effective antimicrobial agents.
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