Fitoterapia 70 Ž1999.

621]624

Short report

Antimicrobial properties of U¨aria chamae

stem bark
G.C. Ebi a,U , C.J. Ifeanacho a , T.N. Kamalub
a
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Phamaceutical Sciences, Uni¨ ersity of
Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
b
Department of Physiology and Pharmarcology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uni¨ ersity of
Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Received 1 February 1999; accepted in revised form 2 April 1999

Abstract

The antimicrobial properties of the methanol extract of U¨ aria chamae stembark ŽME.
were investigated. The more active ethylacetate-soluble fraction ŽEAS. was separated by
PTLC into 18 sub-fractions. Following phytochemical and antimicrobial screening, several
sub-fractions, testing positive for the presence of glycosides Ž8, 11]15. and tannins Ž18.,
exhibited activity against a number of microorganisms, being in some cases more active than
penicillin G and chloramphenicol. Q 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: U¨ aria chamae; Antimicrobial activity

Plant. U¨ aria chamae P. Beauv. ŽAnnonaceae., dried stem bark collected from the
savannah forest of Nsukka, Nigeria, in October 1997 and identified by Mr E.J.
Ekekwe of the Botanical garden, Department of Botany, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka. A voucher specimen has been deposited in the Hebarium of the Depart-
ment of Pharmacognosy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Uses in traditional medicine and other reported activities. The leaves and root
bark are used in the treatment of feverish conditions and certain skin diseases and
as a purgative w1x. Ethanolic extract of stem bark demonstrated in-vivo cytotoxic

U
Corresponding author.

0367-326Xr99r$ - see front matter Q 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 3 6 7 - 3 2 6 X Ž 9 9 . 0 0 0 9 9 - 4
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G.C. Ebi et al. r Fitoterapia 70 (1999) 621]624
Table 1
Phytochemical screening of methanol extractives from U¨ aria chamae stem bark a

Chemical ME EAI EAS sub-fractions

classes 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Alkaloids ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Glyocosides qqq qq ] qq ] ] qq qq ] qq qq qq qq qq qq qq qq ]
Saponins qq qq ] ] ] ] ] qq ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Tannins q q ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] q
Flavonoids q q ] ] ] ] qq ] qq qq ] ] qq ] ] qq qq ]
Sugars q q ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
a
ME, methanol extract; EAI, EAS, ethylacetate-insoluble and soluble fractions of ME, respectively; 1]18, PTLC sub-fractions of EAS; ], not detectable;
q, low concentration; qq, medium concentration; qqq, high concentration.
Table 2
Antimicrobial activity of extractives from U. chamae stem bark a

Tested material Concentration Zone of inhibition ŽMIC.

Žmgrml.
St. a. B. s. Ps. a. E. c S. t. K. p. A. n. C. a.

ME 10.7 28 28 ] 18 ] 18 12
EAI 10.0 20 18 ] 13 ] 16 ]
EAS 10.0 35 30 ] 16 ] 13 17 1
1 8.6 ] 15 ] ] ] 15 12 1

G.C. Ebi et al. r Fitoterapia 70 (1999) 621]624

2 12.5 ] 12 ] 10 ] 16 11 1
3 11.0 12 17 Ž0.34. ] 11 ] 25 Ž1.86. 15 1
4 11.2 11 15 ] 11 ] 22 Ž0.25. 23 Ž0.15. 1
5 10.0 ] 15 13b ] ] 22 Ž0.58. 15 1
6 10.9 11 11 ] ] ] 14 20 Ž1.78. 1
7 13.4 11 11 ] 10 ] 15 15 1
8 9.3 23 Ž0.005. 21 Ž0.20. ] 11 ] 24b 23 1
9 9.7 23 Ž0.71. 26 Ž0.16. ] 11 ] 27b 20 1
10 20.0 38 Ž0.71. 27 Ž0.66. ] 10 ] 24b 18 1
11 14.9 54 Ž0.05. 25 Ž0.06. ] ] ] 35 Ž0.72. ]
12 10.2 26 Ž0.09. 22 Ž2.34. ] ] ] 34 Ž1.12. ]
13 11.3 21 Ž0.13. 21 Ž0.04. ] ] ] 26b ]
14 11.3 ] 17 Ž0.04. ] ] ] 10 ]
15 13.3 11 ] ] 12 ] 11 ]
16 18.0 13 ] ] 11 ] ] ] 1
17 12.3 12 ] ] 12 ] 11 ]
18 11.5 33 Ž0.05. 20 Ž0.05. 12 Ž0.87. 12 13 Ž1.58. 18b ] 1
Penicillin 10.0 40 Ž0.66. 23 Ž0.05. ] ] 35 Ž1.66. 25 Ž0.52. ]
Chloramphenicol 10.0 ] 26 Ž1.35. ] 14 20 Ž1.15. 24 ]
Nystatin 10.0 ] ] ] ] ] ] 31 2
a
Values are zones of inhibition Žmm. and minimum inhibitory concentration ŽMIC; mgrml. between brackets. St. a., Staphylococcus aureus; B. s.,
Bacillus subtilis; Ps. a., Pseudomonas aureginosa; E. c., Escherichia coli; S. t., Salmonella typhi; K. p., Klebsiella pneumoniae; A. n., Aspergillus niger; C. a.,
Candida albicans. See Table 1 for definition of ME, EAI, EAS and sub-fractions 1]18.
b
MIC could not be determined due to anomalous variation of inhibition zone with concentration.

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624 G.C. Ebi et al. r Fitoterapia 70 (1999) 621]624

activity against P-388 lymphocytic leukemia in mouse and an in-vitro activity

against cells derived from human carcinoma of the nasopharynx w2x. This cytotoxic
activity has been attributed to uvaretin and isouvaretin w3x.

Previously isolated classes of constituents. Flavonoids, tannins, saponins, dihydro-

chalcones w3]6x

Tested material. MeOH extract ŽME; yield: 9.5%., EtOAc-soluble ŽEAS; 4.3. and
EtOAc-insoluble ŽEAI: 5.7. fractions of ME, and 18 sub-fractions obtained from
EAS by PTLC ŽSi-gel, MeEtCO]hexane 1:3.. Phytochemical screening w7x: see
Table 1.

Studied activity. Antimicrobial activity, determined as inhibition zone diameter

and minimum inhibitory concentration ŽMIC. using the agar diffusion method w8x.

Used micro-organisms. Listed in Table 2.

Results. Reported in Table 1 Žphytochemical screening. and Table 2 Žantimicrobial

activity..

Conclusions. The MeOH extract of U. chamae stem bark and its fractions showed
some antimicrobial activity. Sub-fractions obtained by PTLC from the more active
ethylacetate-soluble fraction ŽEAS., containing tannins, saponins, flavonoids and
glycosides, showed remarkable activities sometimes better than those of penicillin
G and chloramphenicol. Sub-fraction 18 Žtannins . showed the broadest spectrum of
antimicrobial activity. These results lend support to the uses of the plant in Ibo
traditional medicine.

Acknowledgements

G.C. Ebi is very grateful for a Commonwealth Senior Academic Fellowship in

the UK where the research work was initiated. The authors are also grateful to Mr
J.O. Kalu of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka for the technical assistance in the antimicrobial screening.

References
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