Antimicrobial Activities of Acalypha Wilkesiana (Red Acalypha) Extracts in Some Selected Skin Pathogens

Abstract

The study investigated the antimicrobial activities of Acalypha wilkesiana (Red acalypha) extracts in some selected skin pathogens. The plant leaves were collected, dried under shade, pulverized and extracted respectively with distilled water, hexane and methanol (in soxhlet extractor apparatus). The respective crude extracts were concentrated using a rotary evaporator and phytochemical screening was performed using standard methods. Isolation of oil from hexane extract was done using vacuum liquid chromatography while characterization was done by gas chromatograhy-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The result indicated that glycoside, terpenes, and alkaloid were present in the three extract. Major components detected from the oil were 15-hydroxy pentadecanoic acid (Rt: 16.24, 9.84%), 1,2, 3-propanetriyl ester 9-octadecanoic acid (Retention time (Rt) : 17.47, 11.54%), an unsaturated fatty acid and cholesterol (Rt: 17.86, 36.13%). The antimicrobial analysis revealed zones of inhibition at a concentration of 1000mg/ml: 12.5mm (Escherichia coli), 17.8mm (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), 15.6mm (Proteus vulgaris), 18.5mm (Staphylococcus aureus) and 16 mm (Candida albicans) for aqueous extracts. For hexane and methanol extracts, a dose dependent activity was observed when compared with the standard control antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin). The study revealed that A.wilkesiana extracts contains bioactive constituents with high antimicrobial activity against skin microflora germs and could potentially posses rich medicinal values when subjected to further chemical and pharmacological studies. This study has thus corroborated the use of the plant in traditional treatment of skin bacteria by decoction baths.