The research was aimed at the antibacterial studies and cytotoxicity of aqueous trona extract of Sclerocarya birrea (marula) stem bark. Extraction of the stem bark was carried out using decoction method from the dried stem bark of marula. The extract was subjected to phytochemical screening, antibacterial and cytotoxicity test. The extract indicated the presence of tannin, saponins and alkaloids with the absence of flavonoids, steroids and glycosides. An antimicrobial study of the extracts was carried out against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae using agar—well diffusion method. The extracts with trona have higher zone of inhibition at 100 mg/ml, Escherichia coli, (zone of inhibition = 16), Staphylococcus aureus (zone of inhibition = 14) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (zone of inhibition = 9). The cytotoxicity tests were carried out on the extracts using brine shrimp lethality assay, the extract showed a mortality with 9 nauplii dead upon exposure at 1000 ppm, and had an LC50 value of 63.1 ppm. The FTIR characterization carried out on the extract indicates the presence of functional groups such as: O-H, C=O, C-N and C-C(O)-C indicating peak of alcohols, carbonyl group amine and ester.
Cite this paper
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