Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of the Aqueous Ethanolic Extract of Saccharum officinarum (Sugarcane) Bark

Abstract

Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activities of the aqueous ethanolic extract of Saccharum officinarum were carried out. The antimicrobial activity was screened by disc diffusion method while the analysis of the different phytochemicals was carried out using standard methods. The result showed that the extract had inhibitory effects on the gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The effect of the extract was minimal on Staphylococcus aureus, a gram positive bacteria suggesting some degree of resistance by the organism. The result of the phytochemical screening showed that extract contains saponins, tannins, flavonoids and reducing sugars. The findings show that the plant bark extract has bactericidal activity and could be used in the control and treatment of bacterial infection especially the gram negative bacteria.

Full text

Journal of Agricultural Science; Vol. 7, No. 10; 2015
ISSN 1916-9752 E-ISSN 1916-9760
Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education
291
Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of the Aqueous Ethanolic
Extract of Saccharum officinarum (Sugarcane) Bark
Eneh Frank Uchenna1, Okechukwu Amara Adaeze1 & Adindu Chukwuemeka Steve1
1 Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
Correspondence: Eneh Frank Uchenna, Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University,
Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. E-mail: uchefeneh@yahoo.com
Received: June 1, 2015 Accepted: July 21, 2015 Online Published: September 15, 2015
doi:10.5539/jas.v7n10p291 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v7n10p291
Abstract
Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activities of the aqueous ethanolic extract of Saccharum officinarum
were carried out. The antimicrobial activity was screened by disc diffusion method while the analysis of the
different phytochemicals was carried out using standard methods. The result showed that the extract had
inhibitory effects on the gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The effect of
the extract was minimal on Staphylococcus aureus, a gram positive bacteria suggesting some degree of
resistance by the organism. The result of the phytochemical screening showed that extract contains saponins,
tannins, flavonoids and reducing sugars. The findings show that the plant bark extract has bactericidal activity
and could be used in the control and treatment of bacterial infection especially the gram negative bacteria.
Keywords: antimicrobials, microbial culture, phytochemicals, sugarcane, zones of inhibition
1. Introduction
Microorganisms have been implicated in some disease conditions. The frequency of life-threatening infections
caused by pathogenic microorganisms has increased worldwide and is becoming an important cause of morbidity
and mortality in immunocompromised patients in developing countries (Al-Bari et al., 2006). More worrying is
the increasing economic implication of arresting these microbial infections. The increasing prevalence of
multi-drug resistant strains of bacteria and the recent appearance of strains with reduced susceptibility to
antibiotics raised the specter of untreatable bacterial infects and adds urgency to the search for new infection-
fighting strategies (Zy et al., 2005; Rojas et al., 2006). The search for newer antimicrobial sources is therefore
necessary and should be a continuous process.
Plants are the cheapest and safer alternative sources of antimicrobials (Doughari et al., 2007). For a long time,
natural products from plants have been used by man in the area of health. The antimicrobial properties of plants
have been studied by a number of researches worldwide and many of them have been used as therapeutic
alternatives because of their antimicrobial properties (Adriana et al., 2007). Plants generally produce many
secondary metabolites which constitute an important source of microbicides, pesticides and many other
pharmaceutical drugs (Mahalingam et al., 2011). Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is a full growing
monocotyledonous crop that is cultivated in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world primarily for its
ability to store high concentrations of sucrose or sugar in the stem. Modern sugarcane varieties that are cultivated
for sugar production are founded on inter-specific hybrids between S. spontaneum and S. officinarum. Sugarcane
belongs to the grass family (Poaceae). The main product of sugarcane is sucrose, which accumulates in the stalk
internodes. Sucrose extracted and purified is used as raw material in human food industries or is fermented to
produce ethanol. Apart from sucrose, sugarcane products have been used for several other purposes. Abas et al.
(2003) has reported the antioxidant properties, repair and tolerance of DNA damage in different cultivars of
sugarcane leaves. The sugarcane juice contains flavonoids such as apigenin, luteolin and fricin derivatives and
among phenolics, hydroxycinnamaric, caffeic and sinapic acid, representing a total content of around 160 mg/L
(Joaqium et al., 2006) whereas, sugarcane leaves contains luteolin-8-C-(rhamno-sylglucoside) as major
compound with radical scavaging activity (Fabiana et al., 2008). Policosanol, a component of sugarcane wax was
believed to reduce plasma total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels when administered
orally (Castano et al., 2002; Gamez et al., 2003). This finding is contrary to Francini-Pesenti et al. (2007) which
showed that policosanol has no lipid lowering effects (at doses of 20 mg daily) in subjects with primary

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hypercholesterolemia. Sugarcane is a principal raw material for the sugar industry as 70% of the world’s sugar
comes from it. Besides sugar production, large number of population in the topics and subtropics relishes its
juice and consume raw cane (Abbas et al., 2013).
Despite all the works that have been done on the leaves and juice of sugarcane, literature is scarce on the
importance of the bark. This research is motivated by the fact that sugarcane which is rich in sucrose should be
susceptible to attack by microorganisms. This is not the case suggesting there may be a bioactive agent in the
bark that prevents this. This work is aimed at exploiting the potentials inherent in the bark of this plant for
antimicrobial purposes.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Plant Collection
The sugarcane stem was collected from a cultivated farmland at Trans-Ekulu stream Bank, Enugu, Enugu state,
Nigeria. The plant was identified at the Botany Department of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra
State, Nigeria.
The bark was thoroughly washed, peeled and cut into pieces to expose a larger surface area for drying. The cut
pieces were dried in on oven at 55 oC and an electrical blender was used to grind this into a power. This was
stored in airtight containers for further use.
2.2 Plant Extraction
Powdered sample (800 g) was extracted in one liter of 70% ethanol in a conical flask. The conical flask was
thoroughly shaken, plugged with a rubber cork and allowed to stand at room temperature for 24 hours with
occasional manual agitation of the flask using a sterile rod. At the end of 24 hours, the extract was filtered using
sterile whatmann no. I filter paper. The resulting filtrate was concentrated in a glass beaker using a water bath.
The percentage yield of the extract was calculated using the formula:
Percentage yield of extract = (Weight of extract/Weight of sample of sugarcane) × 100 (1)
2.3 Microorganisms
Pure culture of microorganisms used for the evaluation of antimicrobial potential of the sugarcane bark extract
were; Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram negative bacteria) and staphylococcus aureus (Gram
positive bacterium). The organisms were all locally isolated pure cultures obtained from Peace Diagnostic Centre,
Aw ka .
2.4 Phytochemical Analysis
Phytochemical analysis for qualitative detection of alkaloids, tannins, saponin, flavonoids, cardiac glycoside,
reducing sugars, carbohydrates and anthracine glycosides was carried out on the powered extract as follows:
2.5 Determination of Alkaloids
The extract (0.5 g) was diluted with 10ml of acid alcohol, boiled and filtered. 2ml of diluted ammonia was added
and shaken gently to extract the alkaloidal base. The chloroform layer was extracted with 10ml of acetic acid.
This was divided into two portions. Meryer’s reagent was added to one portion and Wagner’s reagent to the other.
The formation of a cream (with Meryer’s reagent) or reddish brown precipitate (with Wagner’s reagent) was
taken as positive for the presence of alkaloids (Trease & Evans, 1989; Oluduro, 2012).
2.6 Test for Saponins
The ability of saponins to produce frothing in aqueous solution was used as screening test for saponins.
Powdered extract (0.5 g) was shaken with distilled water in a test tube. Frothing which persisted on warming was
taken as evidence for the presence of saponins (Sofowora, 1982).
2.7 Determination of Tannins
The extract (5 g) was stirrred with 100ml of distilled water, filtered and ferric chloride reagent added to the
filtrate. A blue-black green precipitate indicated the presence of tannins (Trease & Evans, 1978).
2.8 Determination of Flavonoids
Powdered sample (2.0 g) was detanned with acetone. The sample was placed on a hot water bath for all traces of
acetone to evaporate. Boiling distilled water was added to the detanned sample. The mixture was filtered while
hot. The filtrate was allowed to cool and 5 ml of 20% sodium hydroxide was added to equal volume of the
filtrate. A yellow solution indicates the presence of flavonoids (Trease & Evans, 1998; Sofowora, 1983).

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2.9 Test for Cardiac Glycosides (Keller-Killani Test)
The extract (1.0 g) was treated with 2 ml of glacial acetic acid containing one drop of ferric chloride solution.
This was underlayed with 1 ml of concentrated sulphuric acid. A brown ring at the interface indicates a
deoxysugar characteristic of glycosides. A violet ring may appear below the brown ring, while in the acetic acid
layer, a greenish ring may form just gradually throughout the thin layer.
2.10 Detection of Carbohydrates
1.0 g of extract was dissolved in 5 ml of distilled water and filtered. The filtrate was divided into 2 portions and
was used to test for the presence of carbohydrates using the following reagents.
2.10.1 Molisch’s Test
The filtrate was treated with 2 drops of alcoholic α-naphthol solution in a test tube. The formation of the violet
ring at the junction indicates the presence of carbohydrates.
2.10.2 Fehling’s Test
Filtrate was hydrolysed with dil. HCl, and then neutralized with alkali and warmed with Fehling’s A & B
solutions. The formation of brick red precipitate indicates the presence of reducing sugars.
2.10.3 Test for Anthracene Glycosides (Borntrager’s Test)
About 10 mg of the extract was placed in a dried test tube and 10 ml of chloroform added. The mixture was
shaken for 5 min and filtered with Whatman No. 1 filter paper. To 3 ml of the filtrate equal volume of ammonia
solution was added and shaken. Formation of a bright pink-red colour in the upper aqueous layer indicates the
presence of free anthracene glycosides (Evans, 2002).
2.11 Antimicrobial Assay
2.11.1 Preparation of Antibiotic Discs
The concentrated ethanolic extract of sugarcane bark weighing 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g were dissolved separately in
5.0 ml of distilled water to give 10, 20 and 30% concentrations respectively. Filter papers of known diameter
were carved out and soaked in the different concentrations of the extract.
2.11.2 Preparation of Nutrient Agar Medium
A conical flask was sterilized by boiling in water bath for about 45 minutes and 7.0 g of nutrient agar was
dissolved in 250 ml of distilled water inside the already sterilized conical flask. The conical flask was corked and
the agar was allowed to soak for 10 minutes after which sterilization followed by heating over a Bunsen burner
until boiling was attained. It was then cooled to about 37 oC and 25 ml of the agar was poured into each sterile
disposable petri dish and allowed for 12 hours to gel.
2.11.3 Inoculating/Culturing of Microorganisms
A primary innoculum was made first on the media, then the organism (innoculum) was spread on the whole
petridish by streaking. This procedure was used for transferring the organisms (Echerichia coli, Psendomonas
aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) separately into their culture media. The antibiotic (antimicrobial discs)
were placed on the inoculated organisms (at the centre of the media) using sterile forceps. The petridishes were
labeled according to the different microorganisms and the concentrations of their antibiotic discs. The organisms
were incubated at 37 oC for 24 hours. Their zones of inhibition in cm was determined and hence their percentage
zones of inhibition calculated. A disc of diameter 2.40 cm was used.

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3. Results
Table 1. Phytochemical analysis of the aqueous ethanolic extract of the bark of Saccharum officinarum
Phytochemical Observation
Saponin +
Tan nins +
Flavonoids +
Alkaloids -
Cardiac glycosides -
Reducing sugars +
Carbohydrates
Anthracene glycosides
+
+
Note. + = Indicated; - = Not indicated.
Table 2. Antimicrobial Activity of the Ethanolic extract of the Bark of Sacchaarum officinarum on the different
organisms
Organism % Conc. of extract Zone of inhibition % zone of inhibition
Escherichia coli 10 1.10 45.83
20 0.90 37.50
30 0.60 25.00
Pseudomonas aeruginosa 10 1.10 45.83
20 1.20 50.00
30 1.30 54.16
Staphylococcus aureus 10 0.10 4.17
20 0.00 0.00
30 0.00 0.00
The result shows that the extract had inhabitory effects on the gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and mild effect on Staphycococcus aureus (Gram positive bacterium). The inhibitory
effect was highest for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and had a dose dependent action. The higher doses gave a
greater zone of inhibition. This was in the reverse for Escherichia coli where higher doses gave a reduced zone
of inhibition. Increased doses of the extract showed no inhibitory activity on Staphylococcus aureus.
4. Discussion
Microbial infections are common among the human population. A lot of efforts have been made in containing
these infections. The first line of action is usually the use of synthetic antibiotics. Recently, there has been a
growing trend of antibiotic resistance thereby rendering some of these antibiotics ineffective. In addition to this,
some of these synthetic antibiotics have dangerous side effects. For example, parabens are widely used as
preservatives by cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries basically because of their bactericidal and fungicidal
properties. However, their use is becoming increasingly controversial because they have been found in breast
cancer tumors (an average of 20 nanograms/g of tissue) (Harvey & Everett, 2004; Darbre et al., 2004). They
have also displayed the ability to slightly mimic estrogens (a hormone known to play a role in the development
ob breast cancer) (Harvey & Everett, 2004). Although there has not been a report of a direct link between
parabens and cancer (Golden et al., 2005), a lot of caution is still needed in their use. All these drawbacks in the
use of synthetic antibiotics call for an alternative approach and plant based therapies provide this platform.
The bark of sugarcane demonstrated a strong antibacterial activity on the gram negative bacteria indicating its
high antibacterial potential and effectiveness in the treatment of wound infections. P. aeruginosa showed the

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highest zone of inhibition at the highest concentrations of the extract tested (30%). This suggests that higher
concentrations of the extract may be needed to inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa but once the threshold is
attained, it becomes very sensitive. The antibacterial effect of the extract was minimal for S. aureus suggesting
some degree of resistance by the organism.
The result of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, reducing
sugars and carbohydrates. Saponins, tannins and carbohydrates were strongly indicated while alkaloids and
cardiac glycosides were absent. These phytochemicals have been suggested to be responsible for the
antimicrobial effect of some plant extracts (Rahman et al., 2009; Mahesh & Satish, 2008; Ankri & Mirelman,
1999; Cushnie & Lamb, 2005). Flavonoids have been reported to possess many useful properties including
enzyme inhibition, anti-inflammatory activity, oestrogenic activity, antimicrobial activity (Havsteen, 1983;
Harbone & Baxter, 1999), antiallergic activity and antioxidant activity (Abbas et al., 2013). The antibacterial
activity of flavonoids is being increasingly documented. Extracts from plants with a history of use in folk
medicine have been screened in vitro for antibacterial activity by many research groups (Cushnie & Lamb, 2005).
Some of the proposed mechanisms for the antibacterial activity of flavonoids include; inhibition of nucleic acid
synthesis (Mori et al., 1987), inhibition of cytoplasmic membrane function (Tsichuya & Linama, 2000) and
inhibition of energy metabolism (Haraguchi et al., 1998).
Saponins have also been reported to have antibiotic activities. Soetan et al. (2006) evaluated the antimicrobial
activity of saponin extract of Sorghum bicolor L. They were able to show that the n – butanol purified saponin
extract of S. bicolor had inhibitory effect on gram negative organisms.
5. Conclusion
The activity of the aqueous ethanolic extract of S. officinarum bark is indicative of the presence of bioactive
compound(s) with antibiotic potentials. Sugarcane bark is edible and so will potentially produce antimicrobial
compounds that are safe and more tolerable by living systems. In view of the increasing resistance to antibiotics
by most pathogenic organisms, the discovery of novel active compounds against new targets and the elucidation
of their mode of action is a matter of urgency. S. officinarum offers such potential. Furthermore, large volumes of
sugarcane bark are produced yearly thereby constituting a huge raw material base for the production of the
antimicrobial compound. Further work is needed to purify the extract as this could reveal the actual molecule
responsible for the antimicrobial activity.
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