Pharmacological Activities of Compounds of Leaves and Roots of Imperata Cylindrica with Its Antimicrobial and Structural Elucidation

Abstract

The  pharmaceutical constituents and structural elucidation of total phenols on the leaves and roots of imperata cylindrica plant were carried out to ascertain the active constituents that are responsible for its use as an astringent, febrifuge, diuretic, tonic and styptic action and its use  for teething problems in infancy and others. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoid, tannins, saponnins, steroids, terpenes and glycosides on the plant. The quantitative analysis of the phytochemicals present in the 4g of crude drug was determined using  Van-Burden & Robinson 1981 method for Tannins,  Obadoni & Ochuko 2001 method for Saponin,  Harbone 1993 method for Alkaloids, Bohm &Kocipal Abyazan 1994 method for Flavonoids and Salkowske method for Terpenoids. Result showed that the crude drug contained Tannin (5.7%), Flavonoids (10.3%), Alkaloids (5.4%), Saponins (2.25%) and Terpenoids (43.3%).  The antibacterial and antifungal activity screening showed strong inhibitory effect against test organism. E. coli, staphylococcus epidermis,  Kleibsiella Pneumonia, pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes,  Asperigillus niger, Asperigellus flavus, Candida albican, Fusarium Oxysparum , Candida parapsilosis. Preparative thin layer chromatography and thin layer chromatography techniques were used to separate compounds from the extract which was subjected to structural elucidation using spectroscopic instruments such as GC-MS, UV-VIS AND FTIR. The spectral analyses suggested the presence of 1,6-anhydro-Heptanoic acid, 1,6-dichloro-cyclohexaneacetic acid, 1,6-anhydro-5-Hexenoic acid, 5-Hexenoic acid and cyclohexaneacetic acid. Fatty acid ethyl ester is known for its antibacterial, antifungal and also anti-inflammatory properties which would be effective in the management of bacterial and fungal infections. These results confirm the ethnomedicinal use of imperata cylindrica.