Phytochemical Screening, Antifungal and Antibacterial Effect of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides and Zanthoxylum macrophylum Used in Traditional Medicine in Yamboro (Central African Republic)

The knowledge of traditional medicine has always guided the search for new cures. Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides and Zanthoxylum macrophylum, (Rutaceae) are used as medicinal plants in Central African Republic for bacteria and fungi treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of water-alcohol extract of leave, bark and root of Z. zanthoxyloides and Z. macrophylum and the phytochemistry group of some secondary metabolic.

The results of analysis of variance on the antibacterial and antifungal effect of extracts of leaves of Z. zanthoxyloides and Z. macrophylum with high concentration (4 mg/disc) showed the effect of treatment was a very highly significant variation according to the plant, bacteria and fungi (P < 0.001). Extract of leaves of Z. zanthoxyloides is very effective on Klebsiella pneumonae with high concentration (4 mg/disc). Extract of leaves of Z. macrophylum is very effective on Candida albicans with high concentration (4 mg/disc). Extract of bark of Z. zanthoxyloides is very effective on Candida albicans with high concentration (4 mg/disc). Extract of root of Z. zanthoxyloides is very effective on C. albicans with high concentration (4 mg/disc).

Preliminary phytochemical screening reactions of the crude extracts of leaves, bark and root of Z. zanthoxyloides and Z. macrophylum showed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, saponines and flavonoids.