ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY SCREENING OF TERMINALIA CATAPPA L. (TROPICAL ALMOND) LEAVES METHANOL EXTRACT AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS AND E.COLI

The rising incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a major public health concern, necessitating the exploration of alternative sources of antimicrobial agents. Traditional medicinal plants like Terminalia catappa offer a promising avenue for the discovery of new bioactive compounds that can be developed into effective antibacterial agents. The methanol extract of Terminalia catappa leaf, in particular, has shown potential in preliminary studies, indicating its efficacy against a range of bacterial pathogens. This study investigates the phytochemical and antibacterial properties of methanol extracts from Terminalia catappa. The extraction process involved using 100g of dried leaves in 200ml of methanol, yielding a percentage of 16.8%, characterized by a sticky texture and brown color. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, Saponins and glycosides and phenols while anthraquinone was not detected. The antibacterial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus and E.coli, demonstrating susceptibility to various antibiotics and highlighting the potential of the leaf extract as an antimicrobial agent. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests indicated effective inhibition at concentrations as low as 6.25 mg/mL for Staphylococcus and E.coli at 12.5 mg/mL for the bacterial strains. These findings suggest that Terminalia catappa leaf possess significant antibacterial properties and may serve as a promising source for developing natural antimicrobial therapies.