Abstract

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Antibiotic resistance in most bacterial infections remains a threat to humanity. This necessitates the search for natural sources of remedy from Anacardium occidentale Linn (cashew) slender branches. The plant slender branches were air dried for four weeks at 25oC and process for extraction. Cold maceration method was used to obtain the extract using ethanol as menstruum. Antibacterial susceptibility test (AST) of the extract was carried out against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa obtained from the department of Biological Science Laboratory Ciprofloxacin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were used as positive and negative controls respectively. Ethanol extract at 200 mg/ml, shows 17.5±0.5 mm zone of inhibition against P. aeruginosa, 16±1.0 mm against E. coli, 14±0.0 mm against P. mirabilis and 11±1.0 mm against S. aureus. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most susceptible, while S. aureus, the most resistant to the extract. The findings of MIC and MBC revealed that the extract was bactericidal at 250 mg/ml. Profiling the phytochemical constituents revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, quinone, phenols, saponins, and carotenoids in the extracts. High Performance Liquid Chromatography shows the presence of quercetin a flavonoid, chlorogenic acids a phenol and testosterone which could be responsible for its antibacterial activity. This study reveals that A. occidentale Linn slender branch has antibacterial activity and could be use as precursor for drugs development.

Keywords: Bacteria, extract, resistant, phytochemica