Abstract

The phytochemical analysis of both the aqueous and methanolic extracts of edible indigenous medicinal plant Lasienthera africanum (“Editan”) and their antibacterial activities against clinical isolates, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were investigated. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones and cyanogenetic gly-cosides in varying concentration. Both the methanolic and aqueous extracts inhibited the growth of the test organisms with Sal. typhi showing the highest susceptibility. This research supports the local use of the leaf of the plant, L. africanum (“Editan”) for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes against bacterial infection.

Key words: Lasienthera africanum, phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial activity, activity index, therapeutic purpose.