Tetrapleura tetraptera of Ghanaian Origin: Phytochemistry, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Extracts of Plant Parts

Introduction: The role of medicinal plants in meeting the healthcare needs of the populace, particularly in developing countries cannot be overemphasized. They provide holistic treatment and wellbeing due to a plethora of phytochemicals found in them. Among such is Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum. & Thonn.) Taub., a multipurpose tree plant with varied biological activities. The current study was aimed at assessing the basic phytochemical constituents, free radical scavenging activity as well as the antimicrobial effect on various solvent extracts of leaves, fruit and stem bark of T. tetraptera of Ghanaian origin.

Materials and Methods: Aqueous, 50% hydroethanolic and methanolic extracts were made from the leaves, fruits, and stem bark of T. tetraptera. They were assessed for the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical constituents, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, antimicrobial activity as well as the spectroscopic properties (Ultraviolet – visible and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy). Compounds in the methanolic extracts were evaluated using the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.

Results: Tannins, reducing sugars, coumarins and flavonoids were present in all extracts while hydroethanolic and methanolic extracts were rich in phenols, tannins and flavonoids, especially for the stem bark. Leaf extracts had better antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Proteus mirabilis.

Conclusion: Generally, leaves and stem bark extracts of T. tetraptera are rich in biologically active phytochemicals, supporting their use in ethnomedicine and could be exploited further for other biological activities.