Philippine E-Journals

Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of the Trunk Bark and Leaves of Alstonia scholaris

Rosemarie D. Graida | Gemmalyn P. Serrano

 

Abstract:

Alstonia scholaris is a member of Family Apocynaceae which is said to be used as an alternative medicine in wound infections.  Plant samples (trunk bark and leaves) were collected at Brgy. Talaongan East, Cavinti, Laguna and were dried and soaked into methanol and dichloromethane solvents.  The methanolic and dichloromethane extracts were screened for phytochemical and antimicrobial test.  Test tube reactions and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) were applied in determining the bioactive components while paper disc diffusion was used for the antimicrobial screening. The highest antimicrobial activity between the extracts was evaluated for Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Bioassay test. Results showed that Alkaloids, Saponins Flavonoids, Terpenoids, and Phenols were phytochemicals present in Alstonia scholaris.  Barks methanolic extracts exhibited the intermediate inhibitory activity against the selected pathogens, M. luteus and S. aureus. The observed MIC values of bark methanolic extract for the three pathogens (M. luteus, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, E. coli and C. albicans) ranges from 25% - 6.25%.  The bark methanolic extract of Alstonia scholaris in male mice was safe up to a dose between 40 mg/kg BW and 160 mg/kg BW while for the female mice it was safe between 10 mg/kg BW and 40 mg/kg BW.