The powdered leaf of
Terminalia catappa
was extracted using ethanol and partitioned into n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous methanol fractions. Test for the presence of secondary metabolites showed the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, saponins, tannins, resins and steroids in ethanol soluble fraction. The antimicrobial assay of n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions indicated a positive activity against the bacterial isolates tested. Chloroform fraction showed activity against Gram-negative
Escherichia coli
and
Salmonella typhi
at 500µg/disc, while ethanol and aqueous methanol fractions were active only on
Salmonella typhi at concentrations of 300 - 500µg/disc. The present study revealed that the plant extracts contain phytochemicals responsible for the activity against
Salmonella typhi.
