Phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of Capparis decidua stems

Background: The chromatographic separation of aerial parts of Capparis decidua , a woody medicinal plant, afforded one shikimate derivative, two acyclic terpenoids, four fatty acids, two sterols and two lupare triterpenoids Methods: in the present study, qualitative chemical screening of ethyle ether, methanol and water extracts of Capparis decidua stems (family Cappariaceae ) showed the presence of triterpenes, fatty acids, carotenoids, coumarins and basic alkaloids. The methanol extract revealed the presence of condensed tannins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides and anthocyanins while the aqueous extract revealed the presence of saponins, polyurenoids, condensed tannins, alkaloids and anthocyanine. All extracts were devoid of anthracene glycosides, flavanoids and reducing compounds. The antimicrobial activity of chloroform, methanol and water extract were studied in vitro against two standard gram positive bacteria ( Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus ), two standard gram negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) and two standard fungal organisms ( Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans ) using the cup-plate agar diffusion method. Results: The results showed that the extracts had antimicrobial activity against at least two of the tested standard organisms; methanol extract was found to be highly active against the standard gram positive bacteria and Candida albicans , followed by the chloroform extract. The least antimicrobial activity was associated with the aqueous extract. Ten fractions were obtained when the chloroform extract was fractionated by the Preparative Thin Layer Chromatography (PTLC), their antimicrobial activity was studied in vitro against two standard gram positive bacteria ( Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus ). Conclusion: The methanol extract fractionation gave five fractions and their antimicrobial activity was studied against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans .