Abstract

Khaya senegalensis, a member of the family Meliaceae, is a plant commonly used by the local people of Adamawa State Nigeria for the treatment of dysentery, inflammation, malaria, anemia, diabetic, gastrointestinal diseases, mucous diarrhoea and wound infections. The aim of this study was to carry out phytochemical screening and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the stem bark extract of K. senegalensis. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of methanol extract revealed the presence of alcohol (OH) stretching for alcohol group, alkanes (C-H), carbonyl (C=O) and amines (N-H) as functional groups. Results of the phytochemical screening showed that saponins, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids and flavonoids were the active compounds present in the leaves and bark of the plant. This study demonstrates the potentials of K. senegalensis as a source of antimicrobials that could be harness for use in the health care delivery process.