Bioactivity of Crude Extracts of Stem Bark of Vetillariaparadoxa

Abstract

This research aimed to study the bioactivity of crude extracts of stem bark of Vetillariaparadoxa “Shea-nut tree” as used in traditional medicine for treatment of stomach ache and control of diarrhea, using hexane, acetone and ethanol as the extraction solvents. Phytochemical screening of stem bark of extracts of Vitellariaparadoxa revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and cardiac glycosides. Ethanol, acetone, and hexane extracts inhibited the growth of pathogenic Escherichia coli, salmonella typhi, and staphilycoccusaureus with varying degrees of activity with the ethanol extract demonstrating the highest activity against all the tested bacterial organisms.