IDENTIFICATION OF SECONDARY METABOLITES AND RESISTANCE MODIFYING ACTIVITY OF FICUS BIZANAE LEAF, STEM BARK AND FRUIT EXTRACTS

A phytochemical investigation of the leaf, stem bark and fruit extracts of Ficus bizanae resulted in the isolation of 14 compounds. 7-methoxy cournarin 1, psoralen 2. tectoquinone 3, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glu-copyranoside 4, vomifoliol (blumenol A) 5, (+)-dehydrovomifoliol 6. dihydroferulic acid 7, 4-methoxy catechol 8, protocatechuic acid 9. taraxerol 10. 3 beta-aceloxy-9 (11)-fernene 11. lupanyl acetate 12, beta-amyrin acetate 13 and sitosterol 14. The resistance-modifying effects of extracts of the leaf, stem hark and fruit against ceftriaxone. cefotaxime, nalidixic acid, sulfamethoxazole. gentamicin and azithromycin were assessed against six Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains using a modified disc diffusion method. Most extract combinations demonstrated either potentiation, additive or indifferent interaction effects against the tested bacteria with some antagonistic effects. Potentiation of azithromycin was observed for all strains with varying extract combinations. Potentiation of gentamicin activity was observed with all extract combinations for both Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains tested, and this was not observed with any of the other antimicrobial agents tested. Potentiation of sulfamethoxazole and nalidixic acid activity was effective against staphylococci, while potentiation of cephalosporin activity was observed for the majority of strains tested.