ABSTRACT

Eleusine coracana is commonly found in the arid regions of Asia and Africa. The seeds are used locally in the management of various diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, anaemia, ulcer, depression and insomnia. This study was carried out to determine the antioxidant, antimicrobial activity of 50% ethylacetacte/n-hexane (EA/HEX) extract and n-hexane 100% (HEX) extract of Eleusine coracana seeds and identify compounds present in the extracts. Phytochemical screening was carried out on the extracts using standard methods. Total phenols content (TPC) was determined using Folin Ciocateau and total flavonoid content (TFC) determined using aluminium chloride test. Antioxidant screening was carried out using 1,1, diphenyl 2 picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method and aluminium chloride test. The crude extracts were screened for antimicrobial activity using agar well diffusion method. The selected extracts were subjected to Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC – MS) analysis to determine the chemical constituent(s) present. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, sugars, saponins, and steroids in both extracts with EA/HEX also having proteins, alkaloids. TPC of EA/HEX was 6.8077µg/mlmgGAE/g while TPC of HEX extract was 2.4231µg/mlmgGAE/g. TFC was 49.8082 and 22.9589 µg/ml mgQE/g for EA/HEX and HEX respectively. Antioxidant screening showed that the EA/HEX extract had IC50 = 1.90 × 10⁴ µg/ml and HEX extract had IC50 of 1.35 × 10⁴² µg/ml. GC-MS analysis showed that the EA/HEX and HEX extracts contained long chain fatty acids and esters, few alcohols, long chain saturated alkanes and unsaturated alkenes. The antimicrobial screening showed that 500 mg/ml of the crude EA/HEX extract produced zones of inhibition (mm) against Bacillus subtilis (14 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (10 mm), Escherichia coli (16 mm), Klebsiella pneumonia (14 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.5 mm)and Candida albicans (0 mm). 500 mg/ml of the crude HEX extract produced zones of inhibition against Bacillus subtilis (0mm), Staphylococcus aureus (11 mm), Escherichia coli (14 mm), Klebsiella pneumonia (12 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12 mm)and Candida albicans (14.5 mm).