ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF Justicia carnea (JEHOVAH’S WITNESS PLANT)
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Abstract
Justicia carnea (Jacobinia or Jehovah’s witness plant in Nigeria) is a medicinal plant used
widely in Nigeria and reported to have blood-boosting ability. It is also reported to have diverse
antimicrobial functions. The plant, Justicia carnea was subjected to the soxhlet method of extraction. The aqueous and
ethanol extracts were screened for antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis. Antimicrobial activity was
determined using agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and
minimum bacteriocidal concentration (MBC) were determined by broth microdilution method. Phytochemical constituents were also evaluated. Toxicity of the extracts was done by evaluating
the haematological and histopathological effects on Wistar albino rats. The animals were
randomly grouped into seven groups of three rats with each group receiving distilled water
(control), MIC of aqueous and ethanol extract, MBC of aqueous and ethanol extract, four times
the MIC of aqueous extract and four times MIC of ethanol extract respectively. The ethanol extract was seen to be the most active against all the species. Zones of inhibition for
the aqueous extract ranged from 8.1mm to 21.4mm, while that of the ethanol extract ranged from
10.2mm to 21.8mm. The lowest MIC and MBC were observed against Proteus mirabilis. Phytochemicals present were alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides, anthraquinones, phenolics, tannins and steroids. There was a slight increase in red blood cells, platelet counts, and packed cell volume of blood, but however not significant. A decrease was
observed with the white blood cells. Histopathological examination of the liver and kidney
showed an adverse pathological effect. The result of the study suggests that both extracts of
Justicia carnea have high antimicrobial activity.
widely in Nigeria and reported to have blood-boosting ability. It is also reported to have diverse
antimicrobial functions. The plant, Justicia carnea was subjected to the soxhlet method of extraction. The aqueous and
ethanol extracts were screened for antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis. Antimicrobial activity was
determined using agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and
minimum bacteriocidal concentration (MBC) were determined by broth microdilution method. Phytochemical constituents were also evaluated. Toxicity of the extracts was done by evaluating
the haematological and histopathological effects on Wistar albino rats. The animals were
randomly grouped into seven groups of three rats with each group receiving distilled water
(control), MIC of aqueous and ethanol extract, MBC of aqueous and ethanol extract, four times
the MIC of aqueous extract and four times MIC of ethanol extract respectively. The ethanol extract was seen to be the most active against all the species. Zones of inhibition for
the aqueous extract ranged from 8.1mm to 21.4mm, while that of the ethanol extract ranged from
10.2mm to 21.8mm. The lowest MIC and MBC were observed against Proteus mirabilis. Phytochemicals present were alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides, anthraquinones, phenolics, tannins and steroids. There was a slight increase in red blood cells, platelet counts, and packed cell volume of blood, but however not significant. A decrease was
observed with the white blood cells. Histopathological examination of the liver and kidney
showed an adverse pathological effect. The result of the study suggests that both extracts of
Justicia carnea have high antimicrobial activity.
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