ISSN 2348-313X (Print) International Journal of Life Sciences Research ISSN 2348-3148 (online) Vol. 9, Issue 1, pp: (10-15), Month: January - March 2021, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
Phytochemical Analysis and Antifungal Activity of Methanol Extract of Acacia nilotica Leaves 1
A. Attahiru, 1Y. Haruna, 1A. Muhammad, 1A. Gana Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Nigeria. Corresponding email: ahmadattahiru02@gmail.com
Abstract: Acacia nilotica leaves has been used to treat different diseases. In the present study, the leaves of A. nilotica was subjected to phytochemical and antifungal analysis. The extraction was done with methanol using Whatman filter paper No.1 of pore size 11 µm. The phytochemical analysis of the methanol extract of A. nilotica leaves was carried out. The extracts were evaluated for their antifungal activity. The the preliminary qualitative phytochemicals screening of crude methanol extracts of A. nilotica leaves .This showed positive test for alkaloids, glycosides, cardiac glycoside, steroids, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids and phenol. The results for the Mean Standard Deviation composition of Methanol crude extract of A. nilotica presented in Table 2 from the results, Alkaloids and Flavonoids has the highest concentration of (2.090±0.008mg/g), (1.500±0.710mg/g) respectively follow by Saponins with concentration of (0.830±0.006) and then follow by Cardiac Glycoside with concentration of, (0.507±0.008mg/g). The antifungal activities of A. nilotica leaves showed that the extracts possessed antifungal activity at various concentrations, ranging from (90 mg/ml to 30 mg/ml). The best results were obtained on Aspergillus flavus (11.06±0.06 to 6.16±0.88) followed by Aspergillus fumigatus (6.10±0.05 to 2.10±0.05), Candida albicans (5.13±0.03 to 1.06±0.03) and Aspergillus niger (2.13±0.33 to 0.00±0.00). For all the concentration the effect of A. nilotica extract was significantly increases against the fungi species beyond that of Ketoconazole. This study encourages cultivation of the highly valuable plant in large scale to increase the economic status of the cultivators and provide a support to use of plant in traditional medicine. Keywords: Antifungal activity, Methanol extract, Zone of inhibition, Acacia nilotica, Fungi and Phytochemical analysis.
1. INTRODUCTION Medicinal plants have been a valuable source of natural active constituents that maintain human health and treatment of many human diseases. Over 50% of all modern clinical drugs are of natural product origin and natural products play an important role in drug development programs in the pharmaceutical industries.[1], [2]. Acacia nilotica (Babul tree) is the member of the family Mimosaceae; Acacia nilotica is multipurpose nitrogen fixing tree legume. It is widely spread in subtropical and tropical Africa from Egypt to Mauritania southwards to South Africa, and in Asia eastwards to Pakistan and India [3]. Phytochemical analysis of the aerial parts of the plant demonstrated the presence of polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids in the flowers. Tannins, volatile oils, glycosides, coumarins, carbohydrates and organic acids are reported in the fruits [4]. Phytochemical analysis of the aerial parts of the plant demonstrated the presence of polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids in the flowers. Tannins, volatile oils, glycosides, coumarins, carbohydrates and organic acids are reported in the fruits [5]. Babul has been reported to contain l-arabinose, catechol, galactan, galactoaraban, galactose, Nacetyldjenkolic acid, Nacetyldjenkolic acid, sulphoxides pentosan, saponin and tannin. Seeds contain crude protein
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