PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL EVIDENCE FOR THE ETHNOMEDICINAL USE OF Indigofera nummulariifolia (Livera Ex. Alston) TO TREAT LIVER AILMENTS

Abstract

Indigofera nummulariifolia (whole plant) used to treat liver complaints and viral infections by some ethnic communities in Africa and Southern India was extracted in four solvents using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and subjected to phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial screening using standard methods. The extracts were found to contain alkaloids, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids and triterpenes, depending on the solvent. Extracts of I. nummulariifolia were active against Salmonella. typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans. Between 12.5 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL the antibacterial Zones of Inhibition (ZOI) ranged from 12 mm to 23 mm, the highest being against S. typhi (hexane). The lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 12.5 mg/mL was obtained against S. typhi and E. coli (hexane extracts) with the lowest Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) at 50 mg/mL. The highest antifungal ZOI of 19 mm was observed against C. albicans (dichloromethane) and A. flavus (ethyl acetate) while their lowest MIC and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were 25 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL respectively (many solvents). Analysis of both the phytochemical, antibacterial and antifungal results led to the justification of the ethnomedicinal use of crude extracts of to treat liver ailments.