In vitro Antibacterial Activity of the Extracts of Peperomia pellucida (L)

Background: Peperomia pellucida is an economic plant grown in West Africa.

Aim: We investigated the phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of N-hexane, Ethyl acetate, and Ethanol extract of Peperomia pellucida whole plant that grows around Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Methods: Preliminary screening was conducted on the powdered sample for the presence of secondary metabolites. 150 g of the dried plant powdered sample was soaked with 750ml of solvents for 72 hours. The filtrates concentrated on water bath (40ºC) were tested against strains of some bacteria isolates including Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 34089, Salmonella typhi ATCC 22648, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using the agar well diffusion method.

Results: Phytochemical screening of this plant showed the presence of antraquinone, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and glycosides. All extracts exhibited antimicrobial activities with the methanol extract exhibiting the least potency whilst the N-hexane extract exhibited the strongest potency with zone of inhibition 10-12 mm at concentration of 25 µg/ml. The MIC (200 mg/ml) of the plant extracts was observed to be effective against the strains of organisms.

Conclusion: The antimicrobial properties against the tested strains indicated the potential usefulness of P. pellucida in the treatment of various pathogenic diseases which in future can be developed as a potential antimicrobial agent.