Antimicrobial, Phytochemical and Crude Lipid Content of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Oils

^1*Mohammed Shehu Busu, Ya’aba Yakubu¹, Halima Lawal Zubairu², Sani Rabiu Aishat³, Ibrahim G. Ijele¹, Adam Raji Abdulmumin¹ and Peter O. Adigwe⁴

¹Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.

²Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Quality Control, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.

³Department of Microbiology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria.

⁴The Director General/CEO, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.

* Corresponding Author’s Contact Details: Email address ✉: mshehubusu@yahoo.com, Phone No ☎: +2348036889317

Accepted October 13, 2019

Oil are heterogeneous collection of biochemical substances which have in common the property of being soluble in most organic polar solvents and insoluble in water. They are used for different purposes from food, medicines and biofuels. This study was aimed at determining the antimicrobial as well as chemical constituents of the two oils. The antimicrobial activities of the oils were assayed using Agar-well diffusion technique against Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out and crude lipid contents were determined. The result of the antimicrobial screening showed antimicrobial potency of sunflower oil against the organisms at highest concentration of 3.12% v/v to S. aureus with zone of inhibition of 26mm, K. pneumonia with zone of inhibition of 22mm, S. typhi with zone of inhibition of 20mm, P. aeruginosa with zone of inhibition of 18mm. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of the extract ranged 1.56%-3.12% and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBC) ranged of between 3.12%-6.25%. Coconut oil showed activity against only K. pneumonia and S. aureus with zone of inhibition of 19mm and 24mm respectively at the highest concentration of 12.5% both. The MIC for the two organisms were at 12.5% while the MBC for the K. pneumonia was 25% and 12.5% for S. aureus. The sunflower oil contains terpenes, sterols and flavonoids while the coconut contains carbohydrate in addition. The lipid content of sunflower was 70.6% while coconut oil has 68.8%. The result of this study showed that both oil has proved its use in folklore as an alternative antimicrobial agent and further research can lead to isolation of a new lead of medical importance.

Key words: Oil, Antimicrobial, sunflower, coconut, MIC.

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