Phytochemical And Antimicrobial Activity Screening of Indigofera Australis

Oko, Augustine Okpani
Page No. 190-196

The plant Indigofera australis was studied to determine the antibacterial activities and
phytochemicals content in the crude extract of its leaves. The phytochemical components such as
alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannin, phenols, and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in Indigofera
australis leaves from Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria were determined
using standard methods. The antibacterial activities of the organic solvent extracts of the plant was
determined by disc diffusion and broth dilution techniques against gram-positive bacteria strain
(Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria strain (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella
pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa).The results showed the concentration of the phytochemicals
( in mg/100g) to be 0.93±0.05, 0.82±0.05, 0.32±0.050, 0.54±0.00, 0.72±0.01, and 0.00 ± 0.001 for
alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannin, phenols, and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) respectively. On the
other hand, the results of the antimicrobial tests showed that the most susceptible organism to the
organic extract among the test organisms was P. aeruginosa while the most resistant was E. coli.
These results suggest that Indigofera australis is an ecofriendly bio poison and as such could be
used in activities like fishing, if need be, rather than the common use of chemicals which normally
turn out to pollute the environment.
Keywords: Indigofera australis, phytochemicals, antibacterial, ecofriendly, bio poison