Evaluation of Active Principles and Antibacterial Activity of Chrysophyllium cainito Leaf Extract Using Different Solvents

Abstract

Chrysophyllum cainito, (C. cainito) commonly known as “Udara mbeke” in some places in Ebonyi State, 
Nigeria is a medicinal plant that has gained much attention due to its multiple benefits to human health. In 
this research, active principles and antibacterial activity of the leaf extracts were evaluated using selected 
clinically strain resistant organisms (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholera.  Gas 
Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) results revealed a total of 21, 28, and 30 compounds in 
ethanol, n-hexane, and ethyl acetate extract respectively along side with their percentage total ion 
concentrations (%tic). The compound tentatively identified includes: Benzoic acid; 3-amino-3-methylbutyl 
ester (2.781%) with molecular weight 207, molecular formula C₁₂H₁₇NO₂, retention time (RT) 11.932 
minutes, base peak at m/z of 137; Oxepine (11.789%) molecular weight 220, molecular formula C₁₅H₂₄O, 
RT 18.990 minutes, base peak at m/z 82 and1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid-bis(2-methylpropyl) ester 
(15.981%) with molecular weight of 278, molecular formula C₁₆H₂₂O₄, RT 11.561 minutes and base peak 
at m/z 149. The FTIR revealed absorption bands at 3608 cm-1, 3257 cm-1 and 3246 cm^-1, from O−H 
stretching vibration of phenol, alcohol, and carboxylic acid. Alkanes (sp³ C−H stretching), were absorbed 
at 2926 cm⁻¹, 2922 cm⁻¹, and 2855 cm⁻¹. The C. cainito crude extracts exhibited strong antimicrobial 
property with zone of inhibition range of 16±1.50 to 36±2.00 mm. Ethyl Acetate extract has the highest 
Zone of Inhibition 36±2.00(mm) on E. coli followed by V. cholerae 30±4.00(mm) and S. aureus 
28±2.00(mm). EtOH extracts shows 28±0.00 (mm) MIC on E. coli while S. aureus and V. cholerae have 
16±1.50(mm) and 16±1.52(mm) respectively. N-Hexane extract was not effective at all against the three 
bacteria species. This finding suggested the potential application of Chrysophyllum cainito in the treatment 
and prevention of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms.