BIOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL STUDY OF THE SEED AND LEAF OF CASSIA OCCIDENTALIS FOUND IN LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE.
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the biochemical and antimicrobial properties of the seed and leaf extracts of Cassia occidentalis collected from Lafia, Nasarawa State. Ethanol and aqueous extracts were prepared and screened for phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. The antimicrobial potential of these extracts was evaluated against Trichophyton tonsurans using the disc diffusion method. Results revealed that ethanol extracts exhibited stronger phytochemical presence and greater antimicrobial activity compared to aqueous extracts. The ethanol seed extract showed the highest inhibitory zone of 21.8 mm, while the aqueous leaf extract recorded the lowest inhibition at 10.4 mm. The strong antifungal activity observed was attributed to the high concentration of bioactive compounds in the ethanol extracts. This study validates the traditional use of Cassia occidentalis in the treatment of fungal skin infections and highlights its potential as a natural source of antifungal agents for pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations.
Keywords: Cassia occidentalis, phytochemical screening, antifungal activity, ethanol extract, aqueous extract, Trichophyton tonsurans
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