Biochemical Studies of Ocimum sanctum and Olax subscorpioidea Leaf Extracts

The leaves of Ocimum sanctum and Olax subscorpioidea are known in Nigerian traditional medical practices for the treatment of different ailments according to folklore. This study was undertaken to compare and appraise the phytochemical constituents from ethanol extracts, antimicrobial resistance, proximate and mineral analysis. Data obtained revealed that alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, tannins and terpenoids were detected in the Ocimum sanctum leaf samples whereas, flavanoids, phenol, steriods, saponins, tannins and terpenoids appeared in the Olax subscorpioidea ethanol extracts. Resistance to a selected range of infectious disease pathogens, using chloramphenicol (0.2 mg/mL) and fluconazole (0.5 mg/mL) as controls revealed that the leaf extract of O. subscorpioidea exhibited higher activity with zone of inhibition values of 18±0.50, 20±0.50, 15±2.00, 16±0.50, 18±0.50, 19±1.50 and 22±0.50 mm whereas that of O. sanctum was 15±1.0, 19±1.40, 15±1.20, 22±1.30, 15±1.10, 16±0.90, 16±1.10 mm. The proximate and mineral analysis of both leaves revealed that Olax subscorpioidea contain crude protein (10.15%), crude fiber (10.20%), moisture (5.70%), total ash (15.40%), total carbohydrate (58.55%), while that of Ocimum sanctum was crude protein (2.38%), crude fiber (11.45%), moisture (6.20%), total ash (10.42%), total carbohydrate (66.35%). The leaves indicated the presence of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), magnesium and copper at different concentrations. The results obtained suggested that the leaves of both studied plant possess anti-microbial activities with the major activity tailored to the phyto-constituents from the ethanol extracts.