Halima Ummi SHUAIBU

Coconut, as food is usually called perfect diet since it contains almost all of the vitamins the body requires. The phytochemical characteristics of coconut oil was examined to determine the presence of Alkaloid, Flavnoid and Saponin quantitatively. Antimicrobial activities were also determined against several bacterial isolates. The tested organisms were sourced from the University of Benin Teaching hospital (UBTH) and they include Klebsiella species, Streptococcus species, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. The phytochemical examination provided confirmation of the existence of alkaloids, flavonoid and saponin. The Kirby- Bauer disk diffusion method was employed to evaluate sensitivity, with zones of inhibition measured in millimeter diameter. Coconut oil showed activities as well as resistant on the isolates at the various dilution concentrations with the zone of inhibition ranged from 5 mm for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 3 mm for Escherichia coli and 2.5 mm for Streptococcus spp while Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella spp, showed no activities in all the concentrations tested against them. The result of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) revealed activities at 400 mg/ml for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, while Streptococcus spp was seen to have activity at 600 mg/ml. The oil was seen to be bacteriostatic up to the highest concentration (1000 mg/ml) used. Since this study identified some bioactive components that are known to be bacteriostatic, it suggests using coconut oil as a medicinal agent and in the battle against antibiotic resistance. To understand the mechanisms of action of the oil and its derivative, more in vitro and in vivo research should be conducted.