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ABSTRACT
The effect of methanolic and ethanolic extract of samples of vegetables (Telfaria occidentalis, piper guineense and Gnetum africanum) on microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) were studied using the Agar Well Diffusion Method. The samples of vegetable were obtained from Bori market in Khana L.G.A., Rivers State and were washed thoroughly and grinded. About 40grams of each sample were weighed and soaked in 70% methanol and ethanol respectively and allowed for 24hours then filtered. The filtrate were then subjected to heating on a water bath to evaporate the extractant. About 7.8g of Muller Hinton’s agar were added to 200ml of distilled water in a conical flask and autoclaved at 1210C for 20 minutes. The sterilized medium were then poured plate into sterile Petri-dishes and inoculated with E. coli and S. aureus when cool. Wells were made on the agar surface with the aid of a cork borer and the extracts were poured into the well using a sterile Pasteur pipette and incubated for 24hours at 370C and the clearance zones were measured. A clearance zone of 5,8, and 14.2mm for E. coli and 3,5, 10mm for S. aureus were observed for ethanolic extracts of T. ocidentalies, Piper guineese and Gnetum afrianum respectively, while a clearance zone of 2,3,4 and 13.2mm for E. coli and 2,5, and 11mm for methanolic extracts of T. occidentalis, P. guineese and G. africanum respectively. Extracts of G. africanum were more sufficient compared to T. occidentalis, P. guineese, while P. guineese exinhibited more antimicrobial activity compared to T. accidentalis. The use of G. africanum over T. occidentalis and P. guineese is therefore recommended for cases of inhibition against Escherischia coli and staphylococcus aureus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE—————————————————————-i
DECLARATION ii
CERTIFICATION iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v
ABSTRACT vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
LIST OF TABLES ix
LIST OF FIGURES x
CHAPTER ONE 1
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 1
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 5
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 6
1.4 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 7
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY 8
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS 8
CHAPTER TWO 9
LITERATURE REVIEW 9
2.1 HISTORY AND CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLE 9
2.2 NUTRITIONAL IMPORTANCE OF VEGETABLE 10
2.3 VEGETABLE EXTRACT AND ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT 11
2.4 EXTRACTANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT OF EXTRACT 14
CHAPTER THREE 16
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 16
3.1 SAMPLE COLLECTION 16
CHAPTER FOUR 19
RESULT AND DISCUSSION 19
4.1 RESULT 19
4.2 DISCUSSION 29
CHAPTER FIVE 30
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 30
5.1 CONCLUSION 30
5.2 RECOMMENDATION 31
REFERENCES 32
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The exact definition of “vegetable” may vary simply because of the many parts of a plant consumed as food worldwide including the roots, tubers, bulbs, corms, stems, leaf stems, leaf sheaths, leaves, buds, flowers, fruits, and seeds (Swedenborg, 2003).
According to Kholi, (2008) vegetable refers to any part of plant, mostly leafy that is consumed by human as food. It can either be eaten raw or cooked.
Some vegetable are perennial but most are annuals and biennials which is usually harvested within a year of sowing or planting. Vegetable plays an important role in human nutrition being mostly low in fats and carbohydrate but high in vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre (Thomas, 2008).
Vegetables have been part of the human diet from time immemorial. Some are staple foods but most are accessory foodstuffs, adding variety to meals with their unique flavors and at the same time, adding nutrients necessary for health (Apel, 2004).
Some vegetable has been reported to possess medicinal properties which indicate that; other than their intended use as food, it can also pose therapeutic effects (Belguith and Kthiri F, 2010).
According to Khan et al., (2013), extracts obtained from some vegetable including; (Spinacea oleracia), suran (Amorphophalus campanulatus) and ghuiya (Colocasia esculenta) using methanol as extractant was observed to show inhibitory effects against all the investigated microbial strains.
Two basic methods exist for obtaining extract from plants and its derivatives ranging from wet to dry extractions. Various forms of extractant exist for use in obtaining extracts from plants; some includes water, chloroform, ethanol, and methanol (Pratima and Mathad, 2011).
Ethanolic and methanolic extracts of vegetable refers to extracts obtained from vegetable using ethanol and methanol as extractant. Ethanol has been the most common extractant (Akhilesh et al., 2010).
Ethanol and methanol are organic compounds that belong to a group of organic compounds called alcohol. Ethanol is the second member of the group with formula; C2H5OH, while methanol is the first with the molecular formula CH3OH (Porter, 2005).
An extractant and its concentration have the chance of interfering with the capacity of the ordinary crude extract. These interference ranges from enhancing to disabling and to a very large extent is dependent on the concentration of the extractant (Bhojane et al., 2014).
The increasing resistance to antibiotic represent the main factor justifying the need to find and/or develop new antimicrobial agents to meet demands (Salawu et al., 2011).
Telfaria occidentalis (Fluted pumpkin leaf) is a tropical vine grown in West Africa as a leafy vegetable and for its edible seed (Nwanna et al., 2008).
According to Aiyeelaagbe and Kintomo, (2006), a common name for fluted pumpkin is Ugu, in the Igbo language. Telfaria occidentalis is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and mostly cultivated in the Southern Nigeria.
Telfaria occidentalis is typically grown vertically on trestle-like structure; however it can be allowed to spread flat on a field. Seed are planted directly in the soil (Giami, 2013).
Piper guineense (Uziza leaf) are spices of West African. The plant consist of vines that can grow up to 20m in length and climbing up poles of trees by means of adventitious roots (Katzer, 2015).
According to Kiinkibari et al., (2011), the Piper guineense plant is a native of Central and West Africa and semi-cultivated in Nigeria where the leaves are commonly known as Uziza is used as a flavouring agents for stew.
Gnetum africanum (African jointfir) is a vine of gymnosperm species found natively throughout tropical Africa (Styslinger, 2005).
According to Chandong, (2011), Gnetum africanum has numerous common names and is grown in various countries across Africa including Cameroon (fumbua), Angola (Koko) and Nigeria (Ukazi or Afang) etc. it is a perennial plant that grow approximately 10m long, with thick papery-like leaves growing on group of three.
These vegetable are widely available and can be obtained at a relatively low cost. Considering their wide availability and nutritional interest, evaluating its antimicrobial properties is of a huge importance as it provides an insight to its possible use in therapeutic processes.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Following the continuous increase and resistance to antibiotics together with human desire for a substitution to synthetic therapeutic chemicals, side effects and cost, the use of widely available natural products, such as vegetables has become important.
Most plant has been known to possess antimicrobial properties, which is a basis for their use in treatment of diseases. Evaluating the antimicrobial properties of plants provides a better knowledge of specific conditions where these plants could best be applied as a means of therapy.
Considering the wide availability of vegetable, cost and wide usage, it has become important to investigate their antimicrobial activities as to enhance their use not only as food but also as a means of therapy.
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research work will provide the following benefits;
- It will provide a better knowledge of the antimicrobial effects of the methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the selected vegetables.
- From comparison, it will help in determining the level of antimicrobial effects of the methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the selected vegetables.
iii. The result will on the basis of antimicrobial effects of the extracts, improve and increase the economic value.
- It will provide a means for their incorporation in the process of therapy.
1.4 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.4.1 AIM OF THE STUDY
The aim of this research is to investigate the antimicrobial effect of methanolic and ethanolic extracts of some selected vegetable leaves (Telfairia occidentalis, Piper guineense and Gnetum africanum), on growth of some bacteria.
1.4.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This research work has the following objectives:
- To determine the antimicrobial effects of the methanolic and ethanolic extracts of selected vegetables.
- To compare the antimicrobial effects of the methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the selected vegetables.
iii. To determine which among methanolic and ethanolic extract that has the least and highest antimicrobial effect.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research is restricted to the investigation of antimicrobial effect of methanolic and ethanolic extracts of some selected vegetable leaves (Telfairia occidentalis, Piper guineense and Gnetum africanum).
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Extractant: A solvent used to obtain an extract from a substance
Extract: A product obtained from a substance through an extraction process.
Antimicrobial: Providing an effect against the growth and existence of micro-organism.