Abstract

The phytoconstituents screening of Jatropha curcas Linn (physic leaf) and Sarcocephalus latifolius (African peach) leaves extracts was carried out using solvent systems (aqueous extracts, n-hexane extracts and ethanol). Quantification by thin layer chromatographic and antimicrobial activity against some clinical isolates (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was also carried out. The results of the solvent systems extracts showed that alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, steroids, phenols, terpenes, flavonoids, saponins and anthraquinones were present in the leaves extracts of the plants but absence of alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, steroids, phenols, terpenes, flavonoids, saponins and anthraquinones in hexane and water extracts of Sarcocephalus latifolius and absence of saponins in all the extracts. The quantitative analysis result showed that saponins were more abundant in the two plant samples with the highest quantity in Jatropha curcas Linn (80.0%) and Sarcocephalus latifolius (48.18%). This was followed by flavonoids with Jatropha curcas Linn (25.18%) and Sarcocephalus latifolius (13.00%) while Alkaloids were the least phytochemicals with the percentage composition of 5.24% in the Jatropha curcas Linn leaves extract and 5.50% in the Sarcocephalus latifolius leaves extracts. The antimicrobial analysis showed a zone of inhibition ranging from 15.67±1.15 to 18.33±0.58 against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.