Phytochemicals Screening and Antibacterial Activity of Lychee (Litchi chinensis L.) Fruit Peel Aqueous Extract

Abstract

A research was carried out to determine the antibacterial efficacy of lychee peel aqueous extract against some pathogenic clinical bacterial isolates. Five different concentrations (100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 mg/ml) of litchi peel extracts were tested against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Shigella flexneri using Agar Disc Diffusion method. Chlorampenicol and distil water are used as positive and control respectively. The extract was screened for active constituents using standard procedures. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with 3 replications. Data obtained for antibacterial efficacy was analysed using Analysis of Variance with Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test used to separate significant means at 5% level. The result obtained revealed significant difference (p≤0.05) in the effect of various concentrations of Lychee fruit peel aqueous extracts on the test organisms. The trend in the values of minimum inhibitory concentrations of the extract against the test organisms is Escherichia coli (10 mm), Salmonella typhi (7 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (8 mm), Bacillus subtilis (14 mm) and Shigella flexneri (12 mm). The effect of the extract is concentration dependent, increase with increase in concentration. The phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of eleven (11) active constituents as: Flavonoids, proteins, alkaloids, phenols, anthraquinones, tannins, saponins, terpenoids/steroids, diterpenoids, cardiac glycosides and carbohydrates. The results of the present study inferred that, the peels which were disposed as wastes could be converted to wealth as the peels could be used in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders caused by some bacterial pathogens. High concentrations (100 mg/ml) were recommended.

Keywords: Aqueous extract, Leechy, Peels, Waste, Wealth.