PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ACACIA NILOTICA (vachellia nilotica) METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT

Abstract

This work investigates the phytochemical analysis and antifungal activities of the methanolic leaf extract of Acacia nilotica. The phytochemical screening was carried out using a standard procedure to detect the presence of secondary metabolite which include: Alkaloids, Tannins, Flavonoids, Steroid and Anthraquinones. The extract undergoes thin-layer (TLC) and column chromatography to determine the active components. The fraction that appears more undergoes FT-IR analysis, which showed the most active compounds present in the Acacia nilotica. The antifungal assay of the active compound was conducted which inhibited the growth of Candida albicans by measuring the zone of inhibition at different concentration ranging from 0.25 mg/mL, 0.125 mg/ml, 0.0625 mg/mL and 0.03125 mg/mL respectively, fluconazole was used as positive control in Candida albicans, antifungal activities in Candida albicans showed zone of inhibition of 19 mm, 16 mm, 14 mm, 9 mm respectively and 34 mm at control. Thus, the analyses conducted confirmed the presence of various phytochemicals and antifungal properties of the plant.