ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ROOTS OF EMBELIA SCHIMPERI

In traditional medicinal practice, plant preparations have always been used to treat infectious diseases like TB, gonorrhea and skin infections with varying degree of success. Embelia schemperi is one of these medicinal plants used traditionally for treatment of intestinal tape worm, dysmenorrheal, bacterial and fungal infections. Phytochemical screening test of the methanol extracts revealed the presence of phenols, alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids whereas terpenoid were absent. Silica gel column chromatographic separation was afforded two flavan (3, 5, 5’, 7-tetrahydroxy flavan and 4’-ethoxy-3, 3’, 5, 7,-terahydroxyflavan) are reported here for the first time from the root of the plant. The structures of the compounds were determined using spectroscopic techniques (IR and 1D NMR) and compared with reported data from literature. The crude extracts were tested for two Gram negative and two gram positive bacteria for their antibacterial activity by Agar-disc diffusion method. Crude extract of the plant exhibited moderate zones of inhibition against the tested bacteria which was comparable to that of antibiotic reference drug ceftriaxone. It was concluded that Embelia schemperi root crude extract used for the treatment of various diseases possess antibacterial activity and this also justify its use in the traditional medicine.

Keywords: Embelia schemperi, Flavans, Antibacterial activity, phytochemical screening