Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activities of Siphonochilus aethiopicus Extracts from Benin

Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf.) B.L.Burtt (Zingiberaceae), a wild ginger used in traditional medicine in Benin, is investigated for the antibacterial and antifungal activities. Biological activities of ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts are assessed against six bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis) and three fungi strains (Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus parasiticus). Minimal inhibitory concentration is determined by microdilution tests using iodonitrotetrazolium salt as bacterial growth indicator. Inhibition of sporulation and mycelia growth are performed using agar diffusion. Siphonochilus aethiopicus is screened for phytochemical constituents. Ethyl acetate extract of the dry rhizome of S. aethiopicus showed antibacterial activities against three strains: methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 5 mg/mL. Both extracts are effective on mycelia growth of the three fungi strains with an inhibitory percentage between 40.95±1.65 and 63.50±1.26. The same result is observed for sporulation range from 42.17±0.00 to 61.46±0.006. The phytochemicals alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenes and steroids are, found in both extracts, and could be responsible of biological activities.