Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Screening, and Antibacterial Activity of Phyllanthusamarus Plant Extracts

Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activities of water, ethanol and methanol extracts of parts of Phyllanthusamarus plant were investigated. Qualitative results from the different extracts, showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins phenols, saponins and flavonoids. However, phenol was absent in ethanol seed extract, but present in other crude extracts obtained with water and ethanol. The percentage of alkaloids in the aqueous extracts of leaf, seed, stem and root showed that the quantity in seed (2.40 ±0.23) and leaf (2.23 ±0.15) were higher than those of stem (0.40±0.00) and root (1.68±0.00). The phytochemical constituents of ethanol extracts obtained from different parts of the plant varied. However, the quantity in root for the different phytochemical compounds considered were more than that present in the other parts of the plant, alkaloid(5-00±0.11), flavonoid (3.00±0.12); tannin(3.82±0.11) ; saponins (4.00±12) and phenols(2.40±0.12). The estimated quantity in crude methanol extracts of P. amarus parts showed that alkaloids present in root (5.00±0.11) was higher compared with the other parts; leaf (3.00±0.60), seeds (2.00±0.00); and stem(2.40±0.00). Except for stem where saponin as 1.40±0.23. The saponin content in other part were higher compared with-other phytochemicals. Water was the best extractant of saponin from root, while ethanol and methanol were better extractant of alkaloids from root. The crude extracts of Phyllanthusamarus plant parts were potent against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains. The aqueous extract of leaf produced the highest zone of inhibition against 25.00 ±1.67mm for E. coli strain 7.