Authors : P.S. Arwa , J.C. Onyango and R.O. Nyunja
Abstract: Phytochemical compounds and anti-microbial properties of the methanol extracts of Rhoicissus revoilli (Vitaceae) were studied between January and December 2007 at Maseno University, Kenya. The bacterial used for the antimicrobial analysis consisted of clinical strains of Streptococcus pryogenes (gram positive) and Salmonella typhi (gram negative) bacteria and one strain of fungi (Aspergillus niger). The methanol extract was active against the 3 microorganisms. Root extracts showed greater microbial growth inhibition in comparison to leaf extracts. The phytochemical screening for the plant leaves and roots of R. revoilli revealed the presence of active compounds of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponin, steroids and antharaquinones. The results from the present study have shown that the species of Rhioicissus revoilli have considerable activity against the gram negative bacteria Salmonella typhi, gram positive bacteria Streptococcus pyrogenes and one fungal strain Aspergillus niger. Streptococus pyrogenes experienced lesser growth inhibition with root extracts compared to the other 2 microbes. It is possible that the growth inhibition observed in the study occurred due to the presence of different chemical compounds. Absence of tannins in roots but not leaves could explain the greater growth inhibition of S. typhi and A. niger. Pit method was a better method for testing antimicrobial activity than disc method in the study.
P.S. Arwa , J.C. Onyango and R.O. Nyunja , 2008. Phytochemical Compounds and Antimicrobial Activity of Extracts of Rhoicissus Plant (Rhoicissus revoilli) (Planch). Plant Sciences Research, 1: 68-73.