Quantitative Phytochemical and In-Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Aqueous Leaves Extract of Blue Pussy leaf (Nelsonia Canescens) (Lam.) Spreng
Currently, there is a renewed interest in drugs of natural origin simply because they are green medicine and green medicine offer safe, effective treatment, with minimal or no side effect, easily availability, cheap and are in great demand in the developed World health care. This study is aimed at evaluating the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of aqueous leaves extract of blue pussy leaf Nelsonia canescens. Phytochemical analysis, cork borer methods, and Tube dilution methods for MIC and MBC were employed to determine the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of the aqueous leaves extracts of Nelsonia canescens. Results obtained reveals the presence of alkaloid, total phenol, flavonoids, saponins and tannins at concentration of 330.00±0.00, 144.60±1.76, 107.04±0.62, 72.50±00 and 42.17±1.17 mg/g) respectively. The antibacterial activity of the plant crude extract active on Escherichia coli had the highest mean zone of inhibition of (20.05±0.05) at 20 mg/ml with the MIC at 1.25 mg/ml and MBC of 10 mg/ml. Staphylococcus aurus had a mean zone of inhibition of (18.00±0.00) at 20 mg/ml, with the MIC at 1.25 mg/ml and MBC of 5.0 mg/ml. The plant crude extract was active against Gram-negative bacteria; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aurus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella, typhi. Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aurus and Streptococcus pyogenes, had wide zones of inhibition when compared to the activity of the control drug. The presence of some of the phytochemicals and antibacterial activity could explain their use traditionally for the treatment of a wide range of illnesses. 
  
Keywords: Nelsonia canescens; Antimicrobial; Quantitative Phytochemicals; Crude extract; Medicine