ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM STEMBARK EXTRACT OF UAPACA PILOSAHUTCH
Abstract
Uapaca pilosa (Hutch.) Used in parts of Africa to treat dysentery, menstrual cramps, fever, constipation, erectile dysfunction, skin infections, female infertility, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, vomiting, dental problems, and fatigue. Extracting the dried plant and subjecting the extract to phytochemical analysis using standard methods reveals the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, tannins, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, and glycosides. I was. Extensive silica gel column chromatography of the ethyl acetate fraction of the stem bark extract yielded the separation of the two compounds GF1 and GF2, the most active of all fractions. Their identities were determined by analysis of spectral data using FTIR, 1D and 2D NMR. The structures of the compounds were supported by comparing their spectral data with the literature. GF1 was betulin and GF2 was beta-sitosterol. Antimicrobial screening of crude extracts and fractions using the agar-well diffusion method showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella, Typhi, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. The zone of inhibition of plant extracts against selected microorganisms was 13 mm to 17 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, 10 mm to 14 mm against Bacillus subtilis, 12 mm to 15 mm against Shigella, and 12 mm to 15 mm against Escherichia coli. 15 mm to 18 mm for Salmonella typhi and 10 mm to 11 mm for Salmonella typhi. His MICs and MBCs of extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds were also determined. The minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 6.25 mg/mL to 25 mg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, 25 mg/mL for Shigella, 6.25 mg/mL for Bacillus subtilis, and 12.50 mg/mL for E. coli. was 12.50 mg/ml for Staphylococcus aureus, 50 mg/ml for Shigella, 12.50 mg/ml for Bacillus subtilis, and 25 mg/ml for Escherichia coli. This study on Uapaca pilosa stem bark extract, traditionally used as a medicinal plant to treat various ailments in parts of Africa, found that it has antibacterial activity against the microorganisms that cause some of these ailments.