Assessment on the Phytochemicals, Mineral composition and Antimicrobial activity of avocado pear (Persea americana) seeds, soursop (Annona muricata) leaves and bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) samples

The emergence of multi-drug resistant strains coupled with the limited availability of affordable and effective antimicrobial agents especially in developing countries poses a great challenge to healthcare providers and affects the successful management of diseases. These have resulted in the need to seek for alternative therapies in handling such infections. This study was carried out to investigate and compare the phytochemical, mineral, and antimicrobial properties of the ethanolic extracts of avocado pear (Persea americana) seeds, soursop (Annona muricata) leaves and bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) samples. Ethanolic samples were obtained by the cold maceration method. The antimicrobial activities of the samples were screened using agar well diffusion assay methods. The presence of minerals and heavy metals were determined in the samples using previously described methods to characterize the samples. The qualitative presence of phytochemicals was also analyzed in the extract samples using previously described standard methods. The bitter leaf ethanolic extract (200mg/ml) was the only sample that showed antimicrobial activity on an Escherichia coli isolate with 20mm zone diameter. The phytochemical tests of the extract samples revealed the presence of flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides in the three samples analyzed. The mineral analysis of the extract samples showed the presence of essential and trace elements. Our study showed good sources of phytochemicals and essential minerals for avocado pear seeds, soursop leaves and bitter leaf samples. This indicates their potential of having pharmacological activity if properly processed to serve as a medicinally vital material in animal health and probably humans.