PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PEELS’ EXTRACTS FROM Ipomoea batatas L.

Background: The emergence of MDR bacteria as well as the danger posed by oxidative 8 stress induced free radicals have caused an increase in the research into the development of new natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. Several natural sources including the leaves of Ipomoea batatas Lam have been explored for the presence of these bioactive compounds. However, the peels of this important plant have not been examined in this regard. The aim of this work therefore was to carry out phytochemical screening and determine the antimicrobial and the antioxidant potential of the peels from Ipomoea batatas lam.

Methods: The ethyl acetate and methanolic crude extracts were screened for the presence of phytochemicals. The colour intensity/ precipitate formation was used as analytical responses to the tests. The antioxidant activity was determined by employing the DPPH assay and the total phenolic content was also determined using Folin-Ciocalteau method. The antimicrobial test was done using broth micro-dilution technique according CLSI guidelines

Results: The phytochemical screening showed positive results for tannins/ phenolic compounds, terpenoids, reducing sugar, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids and lipids. The methanolic crude extract exhibited higher antioxidant potential while both crude extracts were inactive against the selected microorganisms.

Conclusion: Sweet potato peels contain important secondary metabolites with explorable medicinal potential.