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Ornamental and Medicinal Plants, 2017, 1(1): 15-25
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Article

Phytochemical investigation and antimicrobial activity of the fruit extract of Solanum incanum grown in Eritrea

Tewelde Sahle, Ghebriel Okbatinsae
Eritrea Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 1276, Asmara, Eritrea

Received 4 July 2017;Accepted 12 July 2017;Published 1 September 2017
IAEES

Abstract
Solanum incanum (Solanaceae) is bushy herb up to 1.8 m tall, native to Northern and north-eastern Africa including Eritrea. It is a well known medicinal plant. Throughout tropical Africa a sore throat, angina, stomach ache, colic, headache, painful menstruation, liver pain and pain caused by onchocerciasis, pleurisy, pneumonia and rheumatism are treated with S. incanum. This study is aimed at phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activities of S. incanum fruit, which is collected from Areza sub-zone, ZobaDebub, Eritrea. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, triterpens, tannins and steroids as a major class of compounds. Antimicrobial activities were estimated by measuring zones of inhibition through hole-plate diffusion method. The results of antimicrobial activities clearly showed that plant extracts were specific in action against the growth of bacterial and fungal species. Ethyl acetate, ethanol and chloroform fruit powder extracts were more effective followed by petroleum ether fruit powder extracts while aqueous extracts showed low inhibition zones against all the tested microorganisms. Solanum typhimerium was more sensitive to ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts with inhibition zones of 27¡À1.0 and 20¡À0.29mm diameter respectively. Similarly, E. coli was more sensitive toethyl acetate and chloroform extracts with inhibition zones of 27.8¡À0.29 and 29.3¡À0.7 mm in diameter respectively. Meanwhile, the S. aureus was resistant to all extracts except to ethanol extract which showed medium sensitivity of 10¡À0.91 mm in diameter (zone of inhibition).

Keywords Solanum incanum;fruit extract;phytochemical screening;antimicrobial activity;inhibition zone.


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