Abstract |
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Methanol extract of the aerial parts of Cardiospermum grandiflorum was investigated for the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activities. The extract was screened for the presence of saponins, tannins, steroids, alkaloids, reducing sugars, glucosides and flavonoids using standard methods. Antimicrobial assay was carried out on the extract against two gram positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis; three gram negative bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Klebsiellac pneumonas and fungi: Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer and Pencilillum notatum by the agar diffusion method between concentrations 6.25 – 200 mg/ml. Preliminary screening of methanol extract of C. grandiflorum revealed the presence tannins, steroids and reducing sugars. The extract showed average activity against the organisms used and was most active on C. albicans between concentrations 50-200 mg/ml with zones of inhibition between 12-16 mm. Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract yielded L-pinitol. The structure and relative configuration of the compound was elucidated on the basis of the spectroscopic data, especially MS and NMR techniques. |