Abstract:
All parts of Zehneria scabra are traditionally used for the treatments of different ailments.
The present study was carried out to investigate phytochemicals and evaluate
antimicrobial activities of the leaves of Zehneria scabra. The leaves of the plant were
sequentially extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform/methanol (1:1) and methanol for 8
h using Soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical screening tests of Zehneria scabra were
performed on petroleum ether, chloroform/methanol (1:1) and methanol crude extracts.
The petroleum ether extract of the plant showed the presence of steroids, carbohydrates,
phenol and flavonoid. Similarly the chloroform/methanol (1:1) crude extracts of the plant
showed the presence of alkaloid, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoid, carbohydrate and phenols.
The methanol crude extract of the plant was found to contain flavonoids, tannins,
terpenoids, alkaloid, saponins, phenols and glycosides from the tested phytochemicals.
Hexane extract of the plant leaf was obtained using a Soxhlet apparatus and its
constituents were determined by GC-MS. GC-MS profile revealed the presence of 4
compounds among which the constituents of leaf hexane extract includes N-(N-Lalanylglycyl)
glycine (51.31%), Ethyl oxamate (20.03%), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-
(methylsulfonyl) amphetamine (14.50%) and 4-methyl-2-hexanamine (14.16%) were
considered as major constituents. The hexane extract, crude extracts, isolated pure
compound and fractions of the leaves were tested for their antimicrobial activity and the
highest activity was exhibited by volatile oil, petroleum ether, methanol and CHCl3/MeOH(1:1) extract against S.typhi, S.aureus, St. agalactiae and E.coli, respectively. The crude
extracts of this plant also tested for their antitubercular activity by agar microdilution
method. The pure compound, ZS-1, isolated from petroleum ether extract was with solvent
ratio of toluene: ethyl acetate (4:1). The structure of this compound was established by
UV-Vis, IR and NMR spectral data. Isolated pure compound exhibited medium
antimicrobial activity against E. coli and having high activity against S.typhi. Thus the
present study supported the traditional claims of the plant
