Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Activity of Leaf Extracts of Abrus precatorius L.

Abrus precatorius, Linn commonly known as jequirity bean or rosary pea, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. The plant is best known for its leaves and seeds, which are used as beads and in percussion instruments, and which are toxic because of the presence of abrin. The phytochemical evaluation of the different extract of the Abrus precatorius leaves shows the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, steroids, sterols, flavanoids, tannins, phenolic compounds proteins and amino acids, fixed oil, and the absence of glycoside, saponin, and anthraquinone. This study aims to determine the antibacterial activity of extracts and fractions from leaves on the growth of Staphylococcus, E.coli, and Pseudomonas. The leaf powder was macerated using 96% ethanol, chloroform, petroleum ether, and aguish then fractionated using as solvent. The antibacterial activity test using the diffusion method showed that the extract of leaves had antibacterial activity against Staphyloococcus E.coli and Pseudomonas. The most active fraction was the ethanol fraction, with a concentration of 50% with an average inhibition zone diameter of 12.2 mm.