Abstract

Doughari, J. H.*, El-Mahmood, A. M. and Phillip, B.

Antimicrobial activity of root extracts of Cochlospermum planchoni against some pathogenic bacteria and fungi were investigated using the filter paper disc diffusion method. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence saponins, tannins, glycosides and aikaloid as phytochemicals. Methanol extracts (40 mg/ml) exhibited the highest activity (16 - 30 mm zone diameter of inhibition, MIC and MBC values 2.5 - 22.5 mg/ml) against the test organisms. Chloroform extracts demonstrated the least activity. The activity of the extracts increased with increase in temperature (4 - 100ºC) and increasing acidity (pH 2.5 - 6), but alkaline pH (pH 10) neither enhanced nor depreciated the activity of the extracts. The plant can be used to source newer antibiotic substances and can be used for the treatment of typhoid fever, dysentery, urinary tract and wound infections and mycotic infections.