PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ASSESSMENT OF DIFFERENT INDIGOFERA ARRECTA SOLVENT EXTRACTS AGAINST SELECTED PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS

Objective: The current study was done to analyze qualitatively the presence of pharmacological compounds and the antibacterial activity of different extracts of Indigo feraarrecta. Methods: The plant was extracted using hydromethanolic solvent. The extracted compounds were dissolved in different solvents according to their polarity and then concentrated using a rotar vapor with a water bath at 40oC. The antibacterial assessment was done using well diffusion method and the phytochemicals analysed using standard procedures with minor adjustments. Results and discussion: The study demonstrated thatthe plant contains very important pharmacological compounds. The extracts tested had different inhibitions on the microorganisms tested. Ethyl acetate extract inhibited the growth of all the selected pathogenic organisms while the water extract inhibited the growth of three out of the five microorganisms tested. Hexane and butanol inhibited only Bacillus cereus out of the five microorganisms used in the study. The penicillin which was used as the positive control inhibited the growth of all the organisms, while dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO) did not inhibit the growth of any of the organisms.. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed there was significant difference in the microorganisms zones of inhibition (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results obtained in this research are a scientific justification of the plant's use in the treatment of various diseases. The results have revealed thatthe plant has great potency in the treatment against infections caused by all the bacteria tested. However, further research needs to be done to isolate the active compounds, identify their structural formula, their mode of action and their effect in the in vivo environment

Chemical Constituents Screening and in Vitro Antibacterial Assessment of Prunus Africana Bark Hydromethanolic Extract

Worldwide many people use plants as a source of medicine in the treatment of various diseases. Plants have been used since the origin of man in the treatment of diseases even before the invention of allopathic drugs. Plants’ originating drugs are believed to be safe, readily available and affordable especially to people living in developing countries. The current study was done to analyze the antibacterial activity and perform phytochemical screening of the plant Prunus africana bark. The plant samples were extracted using methanol and water in the ratio 9:1. The antibacterial activity was done using well diffusion method and the chemical constituents screening was done using standard procedures. From the results the plant was found to contain all the phytochemicals tested except steroids. The plant inhibited the growth of all the microorganisms tested. Salmonella typhi had the highest zone of inhibition of 17.33±0.882, then Proteus vulgaris with a zone of inhibition of 16.67±0.333, Serratia marscecens 16.67±0.333, Escherichia coli 12.33±0.333 and Bacillus cereus 11.67±0.333 zone of inhibition. Penicillin which was used as the positive control inhibited the growth of all the microorganisms tested while the negative control did not inhibit any of the microorganisms. The inhibition of the plant against all the microorganisms is a clear indication that if further study is done the plant can be used in treatment against infections caused by the microorganisms tested. Further research needs to be done to isolate the active compounds and analyze their structural composition, their mode of action and their effect in the in vivo environment. Keywords: Phytochemical, Antibacterial, Plants, Prunus africana, Medicina

Formative Research on Acceptability of Pearl Millet in Rural Eastern Kenya – A Pilot Study

This study explored the acceptability of pearl millet grain in rural Eastern Kenya. Ninety seven households accepted to plant pearl millet. These were the 37 who were part of the study and other 60 who were not part of the study. When requested to barter 2 kg pearl millet with maize, 33 (85%) out of 39bartered with maize, 2 (5%) with sorghum, 2 (5%) with chicken and 2 (5%) with money. The average score for skill attainment was 88% with 92.5% mothers readily gaining the skill to prepare and incorporate pearl millet into the daily diet of children. Children liked pearl millet when given with a low of 77.8% and a high of 93.2%. These findings suggest that policies or programs to promote cultivation, bartering, and consumption of pearl millet grain could be well acceptable in rural Eastern Kenya which could add to the nutritional content of local diets