Qualitative Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activities of n-Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate and Methanol Extracts of Ficus capensis Stem Bark

Abstract

Ficus capensis (farin baure) has wide application in traditional medicine especially in the Northan part of Nigeria in the treatment and management of diarrhoea and digestive distress. This is attributed to the presence of many biologically active compounds in their different parts. In this study, stem bark of F. capensis was extracted with four (4) solvents of different polarities ranging from non-polar, moderately polar to polar. Qualitative phytochemical screening of these extracts was conducted using standard laboratory procedures. The results revealed that only alkaloids, glycosides and carbohydrates were detected from the n-hexane (non-polar) extract of F. capensis while the chloroform and ethyl acetate (moderately polar solvents) and methanol (polar solvent) extracts showed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids and proteins. But anthraquinones were not detected in all the extracts. Antimicrobial properties of the extracts were evaluated using clinical isolates of four different bacteria and fungi each. Different concentration of extracts was prepared and activity was measured using zone of inhibition in millimetres (mm). Methanol extracts showed activities against E. coli with the zone of inhibition 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm and 14 mm; B. subtilis with the zone of inhibition 10 mm, 11 mm, 13 mm and 15 mm all for 10, 20, 25 and 30% concentration of extracts respectively. Chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts showed antimicrobial activities against S. aureus (12 mm, 14 mm), E. coli (12 mm, 14 mm), P. aeruginosa (14 mm, 12 mm) and B. subtilis (12 mm, 16 mm) respectively for 20% concentration of the extracts. The methanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed considerable antifungal activities against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fungatus. But the n-hexane extract did not show any reasonable antibacterial and no antifungal activities.