Phytoconstituent screening and antimicrobial principles of leaf extracts of two variants of Morus alba (S30 and S54)

Abstract

Efficacies of the two variants of Morus alba locally grown in Forestry ResearchInstitute of Nigeria, were investigated following the recommended procedure of analysis. Phytochemical, proximate and mineral compositions of M. alba leaves were determined using a standard procedure. Antimicrobial properties of leaf extracts of M. alba were also investigated against laboratory standards of both bacteria and fungi using the disc diffusion method. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins, oxalate and flavonoids. Trypsin inhibitors, phytate and phenolic compounds were also present in appreciable quantity. Proximate analysis revealed the presence of crude protein, crude fat and crude fibre which is an indication of the plant's nutritional value and could find an application in feed suppliments. The moisture content of M. alba (S 30 -4.350% and S 54 -1.050%) is indicative of its nonperishability, therefore could be stored for a long period of time. Minerals are needed for some physiological functions and some of the minerals are supplied from external sources. M. alba (S 30 and S 54 ) showed the presence of potassium, calcium, phosporus, zinc and magnesium. The minerals investigated revealed that the plant has low mineral content with the exception of potassium (S 30 -32.650 mg/100 mg and S 54 -31.400 mg/100 mg) which was high. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against microbes by detecting zones of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The zones of inhibition were compared with standard antibiotic discs of bacitracin for bacteria and streptomycin for fungi. The MIC values of the cold water extracts of the plant were low when compared with both hot water extracts and ethanol (99.7%) extracts. This is an indication of high potency and most suitable to combat nocosomial infection. M. alba extracts could find applications in the treatment of infections as indicated by the result of the antimicrobial screening and the whole plants can also be used in feed compounding for domestic animals.

Phytochemical Action of White Mulberry Extracts against Three Important Stored Grain Pests

“…In this study kuwanon G was separated from methanolic extract of white mulberry and it showed antimicrobial activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 8.0 µg/mL against Streptococcus mutans that is responsible for dental caries. In the experiment all the ethanolic extracts were found active which gets similarity with Ayoola et al [20] who evaluated the antibacterial and antifungal activity of phytoconstituents isolated from the aqueous and ethanolic (99.7% v/v) extract of white mulberry. The study concluded that white mulberry extracts can be able to treat bacterial and fungal infections and these activities are due to the presence of phytochemicals, minerals.…”

Effect of ensiling treatment on secondary compounds and amino acid profile of tropical forage legumes, and implications for their pig feeding potential

“…Results on total phytic acid obtained by various, mostly colorimetric methods from different laboratories are difficult to compare. The quantification by spectrophotometry has its shortcomings, and values for foliage are rarely published, but are an order of magnitude apart (very low; very high; variable). No reference values for herbage were found for the method we applied, which is a standard method for phytates in common bean grains at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, although it is similar to the one for weeds used by Gutierrez et al Even regarding the high standard deviation among replicates, the phytic acid concentration in the forages was in general much higher than in Phaseolus grains, and also in grains of the same Vigna unguiculata accession, which was analyzed as herbage (Torres J, unpublished).…”

Evaluation of cell membrane integrity as a potential antimicrobial target for plant products

“…The use of medicinal plants as a source for relief from illness is doubtless an art as old as mankind [ 7 ]. Plants are the richest resource of drugs of traditional systems of medicine, modern medicines, nutraceuticals, food supplements, folk medicines, pharmaceutical intermediates and chemical entities for synthetic drugs [ 8 ]. Plants have been known to synthesize a variety of compounds to protect themselves against a variety of their own pathogens and, therefore, can be considered as potential source of different classes of antimicrobial substances [ 6 ].…”