The Journal of Phytopharmacology 2023; 12(5):284-294 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2023.12502

Research Article

Antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, and phytochemical assays of organic and aqueous extracts from Sarcophyte piriei

Dennis Jack Opwoko^1,2 , Timothy Wachira¹ , Laetitia Wakonyu Kanja¹ , Jared Misonge Onyancha²

Dennis Jack Opwoko,Timothy Wachira,Laetitia Wakonyu Kanja,Jared Misonge Onyancha

1. Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya
2. Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Health Sciences, Mount Kenya University, P.O. Box 342-01000, Thika, Kenya

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 4th June, 2023 / Accepted: 9th October, 2023

Abstract

Traditional medicine practice systems employ plants in the era of rising antimicrobial resistance. The current research investigates the antimicrobial activities of Sarcophyte piriei, whose tuber is utilized to manage diseases. There are limited studies on the efficacy, safety, and chemical composition of the Sarcophyte piriei. The objective was to investigate the antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, and phytochemical components. The powdered material was extracted by maceration using water and organic solvents progressively from petroleum ether (100%), dichloromethane (100%), dichloromethane: methanol (1:1) and methanol (100%) and water. Disk diffusion method was used to investigate antimicrobial activity at 100 mg/ml and minimum inhibitory concentration determined. Cytotoxicity of the extracts were evaluated using brine shrimp lethality assay. Phytochemical screening was done using standard procedures. The extracts revealed varied antimicrobial effects, the methanol: dichloromethane (1:1) extracts revealed the highest zone of inhibition 18.0 ± 0.0 mm against S. aureus while aqueous had a zone of 10.0 ± 0.0 mm against C. albicans. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration of the active dichloromethane: methanol (1:1) against Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa   and Staphylococcus aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentration values obtained were: 18.75 + 00, 14.06 + 4.7 and 28. 13 + 9.4 mg/ml respectively. The minimum bactericidal concentrations values were: 62.5 + 12.5, 20.31 + 9.5 and 40.63 + 19 mg/ml respectively. The petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts had the highest cytotoxic effects against brine shrimp with LC50 value of 55.0 µg/ml while the aqueous extract was nontoxic. Alkaloids, terpenoids, amino acids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides, diterpenes, xanthoproteins, anthocyanins, coumarins and oxalates were detected. It was concluded that the extracts of Sarcophyte piriei has antimicrobial activity and the water extracts is safe. Therefore, the secondary metabolites responsible for antimicrobial activity require to be isolated.