Abstract

ENCAPSULATION OF THE METHANOL LEAVES EXTRACT OF VERNONIAL AMYGDALINA AND ITS ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES

Aiwaguore Johnbull Obarisiagbon* and Oladejo Peter Ogunlowo

ABSTRACT

This study is aimed to determine if the methanol leaves extract of Vernonial amygdalina can be formulated into a suitable dosage form whereby the bitterness can be masked; the physiochemical properties of the resultant capsule conforming to pharmacopecia standards. It is also aimed at evaluating the antibacterial activity of the encapsulated extract. The Gram-ve bacteria (Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli) and Gram+ve bacteria (Staphylococus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) were used. The maceration method was adopted to obtain the leaf extract which was filtered and dried in water bath at 50oC±0.5oC. Adequate amounts of expedients were used to granulate 400mg/capsule of the powdered extract which was finally dried in an oven at 45oC for six hours. The flow properties of the granules were: Flow rate (5gm/sec), Angle of repose (23o), Bulk density (0.6), Tapped density (0.7), Hausner’s ratio (1.1803) and Carr’s index (15). The results of the granules showed good flow properties. A seeded plate method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of the encapsulated extract. Liquor was collected during the dissolution test of the capsules at different time intervals of 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes and used to determine its antibacterial activities both on the Gram-ve and Gram+ve bacteria. The result showed that the encapsulated extract inhibited the growth of the bacteria used at all the different time intervals with a wide zone of inhibition. However, the zone of inhibition was widest with the aliquot collected at 60minutes. The capsules fall within the pharmacopeia standard. The mean disintegration times of the capsules fall within the pharmacopeia standard. The capsule also gained relative increase in weight of about 1.5±0.5% when exposed to moisture for 14 days. To preserve the shelf life of the encapsulated extracts therefore, adequate packaging measure are recommended to be taken to prevent moisture absorption by the capsules. Thus the total leaves extract of Vernonial amygdalina can be formulated into capsule dosage form and used to treat related cases of both Gram-ve and Gram+ve organism in human.

Keywords: Phytochemicals, capsules disintegration time.