Phytochemical Testing and In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Bixa orellana (Annatto) Seed Extract.

Abstract
Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the antibacterial activity of the seeds of Bixa orellana (Annatto, family Bixaceae) extracts. Methods: Powdered seed material was extracted using either organic solvents or acidbase protocols and the crystals obtained were washed with deionized water, oven-dried for about 12 hours at 45ºC and stored inair-tight containers. The antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic, dimethyl sulphoxide and aqueous extract of B. orellana seed was tested In vitro against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus subtilis using agar well diffusion method. Results: The antibacterial activity of the seed extract was observed at low concentration (250μg/ml) in ethanolic and dimethyl sulphoxide solution while, in potassium hydroxide, antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis was observed at 750μg/ml. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values range from75 to 750μg/ml while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values occurred between 75 and 1500μg/ml respectively against Staph. aureus and B. subtilis respectively. Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that the seed extracts of Bixa orellana possess significant inhibitory and bactericidal activities against select resistant strains of gram-positive bacteria.
Description
Keywords
In-vitro, antibacterial, Bixaorellana, extracts
Citation
Abayomi Modupeola, Adebayo Amusa S, Bennett Deon, Porter Roy, Campbell Janet Shelly, Dawkin Garth. Phytochemical Testing and In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Bixa orellana (Annatto) Seed Extract. British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2014 June; 4(11): 1387-1399.