Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of Stem Bark Extracts of Schinus molle linens

Abstract

The majority of the world population prepares medicines from plants to cure diseases. Schinus molle linens is a multipurpose plant that has been used for various remedies as constituents of traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of methanol extract and solvent fraction extracts of the stem bark of Schinus molle. Powder of Schinus molle was extracted with methanol by using the maceration method and the fractions were obtained by successive fractionation of the methanol extract with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the crude methanol extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenes, anthraquinones, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, and saponins. In addition to this, the antimicrobial activity of crude and solvent fraction extract was tested against S. aureus, E. faecalis, E. coli, and C. albicans at a concentration of 90.0, 180.0, and 900.0 μg/ mL. The crude methanol extract and chloroform fraction exhibited greater activity against gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The n-hexane and n-butanol fractions showed the least activity against most test bacteria and fungi. The study showed that it is possible to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi at different concentrations.