African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (14), pp. 1690-1696, 18 July 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Preliminary phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of 50 medicinal plants from Nigeria

D. Kubmarawa¹*, G. A. Ajoku², N. M. Enwerem³ and D. A. Okorie⁴

¹Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 2076, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.

²Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development Abuja, Nigeria.

³Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: dkubmarawa@yahoo.com

Accepted 15 June, 2007

Ethanolic extracts of 50 plant species were screened for their antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. The results indicated that of the 50 plant extracts, 28 plant extracts inhibited the growth of one or more test pathogens. Four plant extracts showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids and essential oils.

Key words: Medicinal plant, antimicrobial activity, phytochemical, ethnomedicinal.