Phytochemical profile and antibacterial activity of crude extracts of the pod of Aframomum angustifolium (Sonn.) K. Schum.

Abstract

Aframomum angustifolium (Sonn.) K. Schum., is a perennial herb indigenous to Uganda and is widely used for medicinal and ethnodietary purposes. The ether and methanol extracts of the ripe pod of A. angustifolium were screened for antibacterial activity against; Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 43300), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and clinical isolates of Escherichia coli. The plant extracts were also analysed for their phytochemical constituents. The Agar-well diffusion assay was carried out to measure the antibacterial activity. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extracts was determined using serial dilution method. The phytochemical analysis of the extracts was done using standard procedures.