Antibacterial Activity, and Isolation of Compound from Piliostigma thonnongii

The present study focused on the antimicrobial activity of crude fractions from the extract of Piliostigma thonningii leaves. The pulverized plant leaves were soaked in methanol and a solvent-based fractionation was carried out using n-hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. The crude fractions obtained were screened for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Among all the solvents, the n-hexane fraction of Piliostigma thonningii (PT02) showed highest antimicrobial activity against the tested organisms. At 250 mg/mL, the n-hexane fraction showed inhibition of 13.5±0.5, 10.5±0.5, 12±0 and 12±1 mm against E. coli, S. typhi, S. aureus and B. subtilis respectively. The lower Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value of 15.6 mg/mL was obtained against S. aureus. Therefore, the study justifies the use of leaves extract of the Piliostigma thonningii as an antimicrobial agent.