Phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana

The present study was conducted to evaluate the phytochemicals, antimicrobial activity of n-hexane and ethanol extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana. The micro-organisms used for the antimicrobial assay were eight clinical pathogens, four bacteria: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and four fungi: Aspergillus niger, Penicillium notatum, Piedra hortae and Melassezia furfur using agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibition concentration was determined for the bacteria and fungi. The result of the phytochemical screening showed that both n-hexane and ethanol extracts contains alkaloids, terpenoids and eugenol.  Tannins, glycosides and saponins are present in ethanol extract only. Phenolic compound and steroids are present in n-hexane extract only. The antimicrobial screening revealed that both extracts used in this study have good antibiotics properties against various bacteria and fungi pathogens tested. The result of this study showed that the plant A. wilkesiana contained phytochemical constituents which suggest the application of the plant as supplementary sources of antimicrobial agent for man.