PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE, ANTIBACTERIAL and ANTIBIOFILM ACTIVITIES OF SOLVENT EXTRACTS OF Vernonia amygdalina

Rahmat F. Zakariyah(1) , Oluwakemi P. Ojelakin(2) , Oluwaseun E. Olorunfemi(3) , Waliyullahi A. Husain(4) , Elohor P. Samuel(5)
(1) Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State ,
(2) Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State ,
(3) Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State ,
(4) Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State ,
(5) Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the antibiofilm and antibacterial potential of Vernonia amygdalina leaf and bark against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. The secondary metabolites in V. amygdalina were extracted using ethyl acetate, n-hexane and ethanol solvents and evaluated through phytochemical analysis.  Antibacterial activity of the extracts was determined through agar well diffusion while broth microdilution was used for the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The pour plate technique was employed for the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Biofilm formation was established and antibiofilm activity was evaluated using the ρ-iodonitrotetrazolium colorimetric assay. The phytochemical screening indicated saponin as the only compound in the leaf while saponin, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics and triterpenes were present in the bark. Ethyl acetate exhibited the highest antibacterial activity at the least concentration. It had MIC values between 8–16 µg/mL with an inhibition of biofilm at a rate of 87.96% especially against K. pneumoniae. The ethanol extract had a moderate antimicrobial effect and that of n-hexane was negligible. The result shows that polar solvents like ethyl acetate are effective for extracting antimicrobial agents from V. amygdalina. They also highlight V. amygdalina as an effective natural agent against biofilm-forming and antibiotic resistant pathogens. 

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Authors

Rahmat F. Zakariyah
rahmat.zak@unilorin.edu.ng (Primary Contact)
Oluwakemi P. Ojelakin
Oluwaseun E. Olorunfemi
Waliyullahi A. Husain
Elohor P. Samuel
Zakariyah, R., Ojelakin, O., Olorunfemi, O., Husain, W., & Samuel, E. (2026). PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE, ANTIBACTERIAL and ANTIBIOFILM ACTIVITIES OF SOLVENT EXTRACTS OF Vernonia amygdalina. Science Journal of University of Zakho, 14(3), 477-483. https://doi.org/10.25271/sjuoz.2026.14.3.1875

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How to Cite

Zakariyah, R., Ojelakin, O., Olorunfemi, O., Husain, W., & Samuel, E. (2026). PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE, ANTIBACTERIAL and ANTIBIOFILM ACTIVITIES OF SOLVENT EXTRACTS OF Vernonia amygdalina. Science Journal of University of Zakho, 14(3), 477-483. https://doi.org/10.25271/sjuoz.2026.14.3.1875
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