3RD INTERNATIONAL e-CONFERENCE AGRICULTURAL BIOSCIENCES 2010 JUNE 1-15, 2010 BIOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS AND ALCOHOLIC EXTRACTS OF Codiaeum variegatum (EUPHORBIACEAE) 1Anyasor, G.N., 1Esiaba I.O. , 1Ogunwenmo, K.O. , 1Esan, E.B., 2Olajuyigbe, O.O., 2Ikpeoha, N. S., 1Onyishi, C.C. & 2Bright, O.C. Depts of 1Chemical & Environmental Sciences & 2Biosciences & Biotechnology Babcock University PMB 21244 Ikeja Lagos Nigeria http://www.m.elewa.org/econferenceIeCAB.php THE GARDEN CROTON Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Blume Garden croton occur naturally in southern Asian and other eastern pacific islands as well as in Africa It can be used as an attractive hedge, Striking foliage in green houses, Beautification of landscape Haemostatic and wound healing (folk medicine) Anti inflammatory and antiseptic Potential antiviral and antibacterial Temporal relieve of tooth cavities Soars, swelling and miscarriage induction 6/7/10 IeCAB 2010 June 1-15 2010 MATERIALS & METHODS Animals Thirty (30) Wister albino rats were obtained from the laboratory animal facility of the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). The animals weighed between 195 and 270 g. They were housed in groups and were caged for two weeks to acclimatize Preparation of leaf extract The leaves were plucked off from the stem and dried under room temperature for about 4 weeks. The dried sample were then pulverized with the aid of an electric blender and stored in clean containers until needed for extraction IeCAB 2010 June 1-15 2010 EXTRACTION 150 g dried, pulverized leaf was extracted with 600 ml absolute ethanol, methanol and distilled water, stirred slowly for few minutes, allowed to stand for 72 h and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure in a vacuum at 80 ◦C using a rotary evaporator Antimicrobial testing Antimicrobial activities of cultivars of garden croton was assayed in vitro by agar well diffusion method against selected bacterial strains. Parameters examined Phytochemical Constituents Blood clotting time Coagulation time Antimicrobial properties IeCAB 2010 June 1-15 2010 Results MEAN ± STANDARD DEVIATION TEST Codiaeum variegatum cv. Ovalifolium CLOTTING / BLEEDING TIME (min) CONTROL 2.35 ± 0.70 AQUEOUS EXTRACT 1.72 ± 0.38 METHANOLIC EXTRACT 3.98 ± 1.62 COAGULATION TIME (min) CONTROL AQUEOUS EXTRACT METHANOLIC EXTRACT 4.95 ± 3.4 NO COAGULATION 3.08 ± 2.5 IeCAB 2010 June 1-15 2010 PHYTOCHEMICALS Table 3. Qualitative analysis of phytochemicals of six cultivars of C. variegatum IeCAB 2010 June 1-15 2010 ANTIMICROBIAL ANALYSIS Antimicrobial action of ethanolic extract of cultivars of Codiaeum variegatum cv. ovalifolium ORGANISM ZONE OF INHIBITION (mm) Streptococcus pneumoniae Te2 30 S. pyrogeneae Td2 14 Salmonella typhi Tc2 7 S. typhi Tc19 13 S. typhi Sat7 10 Escherichia coli Ecl7 17 DISCUSSION The phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloid, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, cardinolides, phenols, steroids, flavonoids, phyllate and phlobatanins in C. variegatum although terpenes, phenol were rarely present The aqueous extract induced clotting at a significantly (P<0.05) higher rate than methanolic extract and the control The bleeding time showed that aqueous extract had no coagulation, while the methanolic extract and normal saline had coagulation More so, ethanolic extract of leaf inhibited growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae Te2 (30 mm), S. pyrogeneae Td2 (14 mm), Salmonella typhi Tc2 (7 mm), S. typhi Tc19 (13 mm), S. typhi Sat7 (10 mm) and Escherichia coli Ecl7 (17 mm) indicating the presence of antimicrobial agents IeCAB 2010 June 1-15 2010 Conclusion Both aqueous and alcoholic extracts of cultivars of C. variegatum possess certain bioactive metabolites with anticlotting, anti-coagulating and antimicrobial properties IeCAB 2010 June 1-15 2010