Bioactive Components and Bacteriological potentials of Acacia nilotica Leaves’ Extract

Medicinal plants have been recognized as valuable source of natural antibacterial compounds and alternative agent for the treatment of bacterial infections. This study was carried out to determine the phytochemical properties, antibacterial activity and biochemical compounds of the crude extracts of Acacia nilotica. The reflux extraction, qualitative phytochemical screening, agar well diffusion and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was used. Phytochemical screening indicates the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, sterols, terpenoids and flavonoids. Ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts were the most active with mean inhibition zone (MIZ) diameter of 20.00±0.00mm and 14.67±1.16mm against B. cereus and P. aeruginosa respectively while the MIZ of the fractions (22.00±1.53mm) were higher at 50mg/mL as compared to the positive control with MIZ of 17.00±0.00 (p<0.05). the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration MBC of 15.6mg/mL and 31.3mg/mL were obtained against P. aeruginosa. Compounds identified in the most active fractions with higher peaks include Oleic Acid (24.43%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (22.96%) and Tetradecanetetrol (19.25%) which are reported to possessing antibacterial activity. Based on the result of this study, it can be concluded that extract from Acacia nilotica possess antibacterial activity and can be considered for drug development against the test organisms.