Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activity Screening of Ether Extract of Afromomum melegueta Seed

Aim: The search for new antimicrobials as a result of antibiotic failure has led to the development of new antibiotic scaffolds. In the African sub-continent, this has translated to exploration of her rich flora for potential leads. This work investigated the antimicrobial potential of ether extract of Afromomum melegueta seeds against three candidate microbes- Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.

Methodology: Seeds of A. melegueta were extracted with petroleum ether using cold maceration technique; standardized chemical tests were employed for phytochemical screening and the agar-well diffusion method used for antimicrobial analysis of the obtained extract.

Results: Findings indicate that the extract displayed dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the growth of E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans with maximum inhibition zones of 5, 10 and 3 mm at extract concentration of 25, 20 and 25%, respectively. The observed antimicrobial activity may be as a consequence of the phytochemistry of the seeds, as preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the seeds to contain saponin, flavonoid, cardiac glycoside, alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, tannin and phenolic compounds. The ability of the extract to inhibit microbes with diverse morphology indicates that the antimicrobial bioactive principles therein may have broad specificity.

Conclusion: The result of our study further reinforces the importance of A. melegueta seeds in ethnomedical practices and its use in culinary. Further investigation is however needed to isolate and mechanistically investigate the bioactive antimicrobial principles for potential development into generic antimicrobials.