Phytochemical Screening, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of Ziziphus Spina-Christi (L.) (Rhamnaceae) Leaves and Bark extracts

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to determine the preliminary phytochemical component, the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the leaves and bark extracts of Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) (Rhamnaceae) against two clinical isolates (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli species) using the standard method of analysis. The test for the phytochemical component revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, terpenoids and glycosides. The result of antibacterial activity showed that the bark ethanolic extract exhibit a higher zone of inhibition against all the clinical isolates; Escherichia coli species showed zones of inhibition of 22mm followed by Staphylococcus aureus 15mm. The antioxidant activity of the leaves and bark extracts was evaluated using the standard 2,2 diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) 0.5 ml. The antioxidant activity of the leaves water and ethanolic extracts was 30 ± 0.05 and 91 ± 0.02 respectively and the antioxidant activity of the bark water and ethanolic extracts was 44 ± 0.03 and 70 ± 0.02 respectively.