Preliminary phytochemical and antimicrobial studies of the leaves of Varissa edulis VAHL

Abstract

 The plant Carissa edulis is used in traditional medicinal practice in the treatment of chest, venereal
 infections and other ailments. The studies were carried out to confirm these claims. The preliminary
 phytochemical screening of the leaves revealed the presence of carhohydrates, tannins, flavonoids,
 cardiac glycosides, cyanogenic glycosides, saponins, terpenes and steroids. Anthraquinones, balsams,
 resins and alkaloids were absent. The antimicrobial studies of the water ad methanolic extracts were
 carried out on standard organisms, Staphylococcus aureus, (ATCC13709), Streptococcus pyogenes,
 (NCTC 8198), Escherichia coli, (NCTC 10418), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, (NCTC 6570), Candida
 albicans (NCTC 3151A) and clinical isolates (P, aeruginosa. P. putrefaciens), using cup-plate method
 on solid media. 10, 15 and 25% w/v of the extract used showed inhibitory activity on the organisms
 tested. Zone of inhibition ranged between 11.0-22.5mm. Therefore, this result confirms the use of the
 leaves in traditional medicinal treatment of venereal and chest infections. The presence of tannins or
 saponins might be responsible for these activities.