Antibacterial and phytochemical screening of ethanol extracts of Manilkara zapota leaves and bark

ethanol extracts of leaves and stem bark of Manilkara zapota (L.) were examined for their antimicrobial properties and phytochemical screening. The agar gel diffusion method was used to determine the inhibitory effects of both the extracts against five gram positive and eight gram negative bacteria. The bark extract (400 µg/disc) showed significant antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria with the average value of 7-13.5 mm zone of inhibition. The leaves extract had lower actions at the same concentration and no activity was observed against one (Staphylococcus aureus) among the thirteen tested bacteria. Kanamycin (30 µg/disc) was used as standard antimicrobial drug whose zone of inhibition ranges from 16.5 to 25 mm. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of different types of phytochemical constituents including alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins.