Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activity Screening of Some Liquid Herbal Products Sold in Suleja, Niger State, Nigeria

There are several hundreds of plants that are identified reasonable sources of medicinal agents which dated back to the age long history of mankind globally. The aim of this research is to examine the antimicrobial potential and the phytochemicals present in liquid herbal products. Fifteen (15) liquid herbal products hawked were randomly purchased from herbal medicine vendors in the streets and markets in Suleja, Niger State, Nigeria. The samples were coded as SHM, SHBA, LHM, GHHP, NG, MS, MM, FGBE, TM, GI, FM, GEI, GHCR, GHC and AIHMC. These products were qualitatively screened for phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial potentials using standard methods. The results of phytochemicals revealed the presence of phenols, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, anthrax-quinones and carbohydrates. The herbal products (MS and GI) at the stock concentrations (50.00 mg/mL) had activity against most of the bacteria and fungus with zones of inhibition ranging from 11- 20 mm. While herbal products (SHBA, LHM, GHHP and GEI) at 50mg/mL had activity against four of the test microorganisms. Two of the herbal products (FM and GHC) had activity against one microorganism. The herbal products had varied antimicrobial activity to justify the continue use to treat the said ailments. The study identified the presence of phytochemicals that possess the antimicrobial property of some of the herbal products.