Phytochemical Analysis and Antibacterial Activities of Kyllinga nemoralis Extracts against the Growth of some Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract

This study aimed to screen the phytochemical contents and investigate antibacterial activities of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Kyllinga nemoralis. Extraction was done using the whole plant of K. nemoralis except the root. The phytochemical screening was carried out on both aqueous and methanolic extracts of K. nemoralis. The aqueous extract showed the presence of saponin and high amount of steroid, while the methanolic extract showed high amount of terpenoid and steroid. The antibacterial activities of K. nemoralis extracts were tested against five Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Bacillus thuringiensis) and four Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella Typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae). K. nemoralis extracts were subjected to testing of their antibacterial activities by the disk diffusion method. Furthermore, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the extracts were determined. The results indicate that the aqueous extract of K. nemoralis exhibits more antibacterial activities than the methanolic extract. The aqueous extract of K. nemoralis showed efficacy against S. aureus and MRSA while the methanolic extract of K. nemoralis was found to exert antibacterial activity against MRSA. The results proved the potency of K. nemoralis extracts as natural antibacterial and supported the potential of use in the medication of the diseases caused by the tested bacteria.

Keywords

• kyllinga nemoralis
• phytochemical screening
• antibacterial activity
• medicinal plants
• minimum inhibitory concentration