Proximate, Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Studies on Solanum macrocarpon L.

Proximate, phytochemical and antimicrobial studies of leaf, fruit and root of Solanum macrocarpon L. were evaluated using standard methods. Protein, fat, ash, fibre and moisture as well as bioactive compounds (alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin and tannin) were present in the plant parts but at varied levels. The leaf contained significantly the highest quantities of nutrients and phytochemicals. Antimicrobial screening showed that the leaf had the highest inhibition against the pathogens (Aspergilus niger van Tieghem (NR 241), Staphylococcus aureus Rosenbach (NR 201), Candida albican (C. P. Robin) Berkhout (NR 242) and Escherichia coli (Migula) Castellani and Chalmers (NR 202) and the inhibition was dependent on extract concentration. At 50 g/100 ml, the extracts apart from the leaf showed no inhibition against the pathogens. The results indicated that Solanum macrocarpon extracts are rich in those nutrients and possessed antimicrobial properties thus justifies the use of the plant as food and could also be used in the treatment of microbial infections.