Abstract

Balanites aegyptiaca has been reported to be an anti-helminthic, a purgative, febrifuge, emetic and can also cure other types of ailments like skin boils, malaria, wounds, colds, syphilis, liver and spleen disorders. Various parts of this plant have their own traditional medicinal properties. In this study the phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of different concentrations (400 mg/ml, 200 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml) of hexane extracted oil from Balanites aegyptiaca kernel were investigated. The fixed oil was extracted by solvent semi-continuous extraction method (Soxhlet) with hexane. The phytochemical properties were determined according to standard methods. The percentage yield of the kernel oil was found to be 35.10%. The antimicrobial activity was investigated by agar well diffusion assay against two bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and two fungi; Candida albicans and Trichophyton tonsurans. Gentamicin and Fluconazole served as control antibiotics for bacteria and fungi respectively. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloid, steroid, cardiac glycoside and carbohydrate. The antimicrobial activities of the oil extracted from Balanites aegyptiaca kernel showed that the oil extract exhibited inhibitory effects against the tested bacteria with zones of inhibition ranging from 13mm to 8mm and 8mm to 6mm for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli respectively. However, the oil did not show inhibitory effect against the tested fungi (Trichophyton tonsurans and Candida albicans).