GC-MS, Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Pentaclethra Macrophylla Bark (P.Benth)

The chemical components of most medicinal plants such as Pentaclethra macrophylla have not been fully documented, to this end, we embarked on the determination of volatile components of stem bark of this plant. The stem bark of Pentaclethra macrophylla was analyzed for its phytochemical and anti-microbial properties with the aid of; Shimazu Japan GC model 5890-11, GC-MS QP 2010 PLUS Shimazu Japan and Jenway digital Spectrophotometer model 6303. The GC-MS analysis of this sample yielded 10 compounds: 1,2,3- benzenetriol (11.53 %), 1, 4 – methoxy -3- (4- methyl phenoxy) phenyl ethanone (2.31 %), 1,2-benzenecarboxylic acid (2.31. %), 3-eicosene (2.31 %), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, (4.62 %), n-hexadecanoic acid (20.77 %), 6-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (5.38 %), 6-octadecanoic acid, (25.77 %), Octadecanoic acid (13.25 %) and Naphto [-1, 2, 6-] furan -2-one (10.38 %). The phytochemical composition of the sample showed that the alkaloid composition was 0.80 %, with corresponding values of1.36 %,0.71 %,0.018 % and 0.93 %  for flavonoids ,saponins, phenols and tannins respectively The extracts showed marked inhibition of the growth of seven selected pathogens; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans, Penicillium and Aspergillus  niger  with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 6.5 mg/cm³, 12.5 mg/cm³ ,6.5 mg/cm³, 2.5 mg/cm³,12.5 mg/cm³, 6.5 mg/cm³ and  2.5 mg/cm³ respectively. These various compounds are responsible for the ethnomedicinal uses of the extracts of this plant in the treatment of diseases such as inflammatory disorders, convulsion and dysentery