Abstract:
All parts of Foeniculum vulgare were traditionally used as antispasmodic, aromatic,
carminative, digestive, galactagogues, stomach and kidney ailment. Foeniculum vulgare
(Apiaceae) leaves extract was investigated for its phytochemicals as well as antimicrobial
effects. The petroleum ether, chloroform, chloroform/methanol (1:1) and methanol crude
extract were subjected to phytochemicals screening and the results of the screening test
revealed that it is rich in many primary and secondary metabolites such as steroids, tannins,
flavonoids, cholesterol, terpenoids, saponins, phenols, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates
and proteins. The petroleum extract of the leaves of the plant was subjected to column
chromatography on silica gel and further purified using preparative thin layer
chromatography (PTLC) yielded an aromatic steroid. The structure of this compound was ide
ntified using IR and one dimensional NMR techniques such as
1
H NMR,13C NMR, DEPT and
comparison with literature report. Essential oil was also extracted by hydro-distillation from
the plant leaves. The essential oil was investigated by GC-MS and was found to have (64.92%)
anethol, as a major constituent followed by (30.88%) estragole and fenchyl acetate. The crude
extract, oil and the isolated compound were tested against four bacterial species (Gram negative
bacteria, Escherichia coli and Shigella; Gram positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus a
nd Streptococcus pyrogenes) and two fungal species (Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus Ni
ger) using paper disc diffusion method. Tests of antimicrobial activity showed that all crude
extracts and isolated pure compound were active against all the tested bacterial and fungal
species. However, the hydro distillation extract was found to have no antibacterial activity
towards the tested bacterial species but active against the two fungal species and thus the
present study supported the traditional claims of the plant.
