Susceptibility patterns of common bacteria and fungal species isolated from sexually transmitted diseased patients to xylopia aethiopica (annonaceae)

Abstract

The hexane and methanolic extracts of the leaves, stem, stem bark, and root bark of Xylopia aethiopica were investigated for their anti-microbial activities against some common bacteria and fungal strains isolated from sexually transmitted diseased patients and some standard organisms. The hexane and methanol crude extracts showed varying degrees of anti-microbial activities at varying concentrations while the stem bark exhibited significant broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity. The methanolic extract of the stem bark showed better activity than hexane, was fractionated and the four fractions collected were tested for their antimicrobial activity against the organisms implicated in STD at a concentration of 10mg/ml. The results suggest that the active fractions A and B contain constituents which can be isolated, characterized and identified for effective management of both bacterial and fungal STD’s. Preliminary Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids. sugars, cardiac glycoside and saponins and the absence of anthraquinones and tannins.