Antimicrobial activity and Chemical Composition of the flowers of Aspilia africana

Abstract

Aspilia africana flower obtained in Kafanchan Kaduna state, Nigeria from the wild was extracted using methanol as solvent in order to investigate its phytochemical, antimicrobial, toxicity and antioxidant characteristics. This is to investigate an alternative source of natural colourants which is bioactive. The crude extract has inhibitory activity on Candida albicans, Staphyllococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bascillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeriginosa and Aspergillus flavus. The extract has low toxicity with LD₅₀ 6.5g/kg body weight. LC₅₀ 2.10 and antioxidant activity of 96.8 which compare favourably with a standard antioxidant, ascorbic acid.

Keywords: Antimicrobial, antioxidant, phytochemistry, toxicity.