Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activities of n-Hexane and Ethanol Extracts of the Leaves of Rogeria adenophylla (J. Gay)

Aim: In recent times, the increasing microbial resistance to drugs has necessitated the search for alternative antimicrobial agents that are derived from natural sources. Rogeria adenophylla is one of such plant that has been reported to possess medicinal properties. This study investigated the antibacterial and antifungal activity of Rogeria adenophylla J. Gay and its major phytochemical constituents.

Materials and Methods: The hexane and ethanol extracts from the leaf of the plant were tested for the presence of some phytochemicals. And the extracts were also tested using well diffusion method for their antibacterial activity against Eschericchia coli, Shigella sonnei, and Salmonella typhi and anti-fungal activities Aspergillus niger and Blastomyces dermatitidis.

Results: Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed that both hexane and ethanol leaf extracts contained alkaloids, saponins, and terpenes, only the ethanolic extract has glycosides. The result revealed that the extracts were active against the microorganisms. The ethanolic extract showed the highest zones of inhibition against tested organisms compared to hexane extract.

Conclusion: The extracts of the plant demonstrated antibacterial activity due to the presence of phytochemical constituents. Therefore, the application of the decoction of leaf of the plant in ethno medicine is justified.