Phytochemical Constituents and Biological Activity of Fractions of Stem and Leaves of Acalypha inferno

Aims: Acalypha inferno is an ornamental plant which has been shown to be a phytoremediator of zinc. Other species of this genus used traditionally have been proven to possess pharmacologically active constituents. The study sought to evaluate the phytochemical constituents, in vitro antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effect of Acalypha inferno crude extracts and fractions of leaves and stem.

Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology and the Central Laboratory of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana between October 2016 and May 2017.

Methodology: Phytochemical constituents, DPPH assay, total phenolic content and antimicrobial effect were analyzed using standard methods. FT-IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy were used to identify functional groups and major constituents. Heavy metals in the plant were evaluated by wet digestion of sample and measurement using AAS.

Results: Phytochemicals included triterpenoids, sterols, alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides and hydrolysable tannins. The Total Phenolic Content (TPC) of the leaf extract was 1.818 mg/ml ± 0.062 (EC50 = 0.03995 mg/ml ± 0.00084). The FTIR revealed the presence of alcohols, amines, aromatic compounds, amides, carboxylic acids, esters and alkynes. Iron and zinc were also detected. The stem and leaf fractions exhibited antimicrobial activity against S. typhi, P. aeroginosa and S. aureus.

Conclusion: Acalypha inferno is rich in antioxidants and bioactive compounds which exhibit antimicrobial activity against some bacteria.