Aaron Tsambelumun Alaanyi
Department of Integrated Science,
College of Education, Katsina-Ala,
Benue State.
Email: [email protected]
Abstract
A preliminary phytochemical screening of Citrullus colocynthis belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae was carried out to establish its medicinal values. The crude leafs and stem extract was examined for antimicrobial potentialities against fungi and bacteria. The aerial parts of the plant were tested for chemical composition using standard procedures and it showed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, proteins, fixed oils, glycosides and saponins. The plant material was subjected to successive soxhlet extraction using methanol solvent. The extracts were evaluated on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans and Trichophyton sp strains. The methanol and distilled water extracts showed significant activity against all test organisms. The results obtained in the study suggest that Citrullus colocynthis can be used in treating Tinea cruris a disease caused by trichophyton rubrum.
KEYWORDS: CITRILLUS COLOCYNTHIS, TINEA CRURIS, PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTIMICROBIAL, MEDICINAL PLANT