Abstract

Edu N. E., Godwin Michael Ubi*, Ekpo P. B. and Ivon E. A.

ABSTRACT

Emilia sonchifolia (Composite) has found various medicinal uses in folk medicine, as a cure for various ailments such as sore throat, wound healings, stomach ache, conjunctivitis, depurative, anticonvulsants, bowel complaint remedies and sores, aqueous extract is used to treat internal heat among pregnant women. The need to pharmacologically confirm these claims stimulated the need for this investigation. The effect of aqueous extract of Emilia sonchifolia on some diarrhoeagenic pathogens like Escherichia coli, Shigella spp. Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were investigated. The Emilia sonchifolia leaves were soaked for 48hrs (2 days) and the undiluted and diluted extracts used to inoculate five agar plates containing the pathogens. 0.1ml of the diluted and undiluted extracts was administered to the organisms to show various sensitivity and resistance percentages. In the undiluted extract of Emilia sonchifolia, E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus pathogens shows a high sensitivity of over 80% each with about 70% inhibition (R). Shigella species on the other hand showed 60% sensitivity with about 40% inhibition (R). Salmonella species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa each showed 40% sensitivity and 20% inhibition (R). In the diluted extract of Emilia sonchifolia on the isolates, E. Coli showed 60% sensitivity (s) with and 20% inhibition (R), Shigella species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa each shows 40% sensitivity against the diluted extract and 20% inhibition (R), while Staphyllococcus aureus showed 20% sensitivity(s) 40% and 20% inhibition (R). Salmonella spp showed 20% sensitivity (s) and 10% inhibition. Percent zone of growth inhibition of pathogens was higher with undiluted extracts compared to diluted extracts. Results of phytochemical screening of the leave extracts of Emilia sonchifolia showed that the plant leaves extract contains in order of high concentrations and efficacy of phytochemicals; tannins > triterpenoids = saponins = anthraquinones = flavonoids > alkaloids = reducing sugars. There was no steroid compound found in the extract suggesting that the plant is steroid free and ideal for human medicinal formulations.