Phytochemical Distribution and Antimicrobial Sensitivity of Sapium ellipticum (Hochst.) Pax Leaf Extracts

In this study, different extract fractions (aqueous, ethanol, methanol, hexane, diethyl ether and chloroform) of Sapium ellipticum (SE) leaf obtained by cold extraction method were screened for phytochemicals, and antimicrobial sensitivity. The percentage yield of extract was highest in methanol fraction (22.8%) and lowest in chloroform (3.64%). Flavonoids, steroids, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, alkaloids, phenols, anthraquinones and cardiac glycosides were collectively observed in the fractions. More phytochemicals were observed in ethanol fraction than other fractions. Quantitative estimation of the powdered leaf sample showed 10.8±0.54% flavonoids, 9.24±0.12% alkaloids, 7.26±1.01% tannins, 1.63±0.14% glycosides and 74.2±3.12mgGAE/g total phenols. Eight human pathogenic microbes (four bacteria, three fungi and yeast) were used to evaluate the antimicrobial sensitivity of the different extract fractions using agar well diffusion method. A broad spectrum antimicrobial efficacy was observed in the relatively more polar fractions (ethanol, methanol and aqueous), with ethanol having the highest potency (minimum inhibitory concentration range of 6.25-50 mgmL-1) on the microorganism strains for which the fractions were reactive. Conversely, the less polar fractions (diethyl ether, chloroform and hexane) were largely resisted by the microbial isolates. Only methanol and ethanol fractions were effective against yeast growth. Except for penicillin camemberti which was slightly sensitive to ethanol extract, the fungal isolates generally resisted the investigated fractions. Overall, findings from this study indicates that polar solvents extracts of Sapium ellipticum, particular ethanol fraction are rich in arrays of phytochemicals, and are capable of eliciting strong antibacterial activities, as much as 113-375% potency in comparison to Sensitive Disk Test (SDT) containing known antimicrobial drugs such as Ofloxacine (OFL), Gentamycin (GEN), Chloramphenicol (CHL), Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and cephalexin (CXC).