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PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF HENNA

(Lawsonia inermis) ROOTS EXTRACTS

Article · September 2015

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Katsina Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences VOL. 4 No. 2 September 2015 (ISSN: 2141-0755)

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF HENNA

(Lawsonia inermis) ROOTS EXTRACTS
*Wagini, N.H.1,A. Bello1 , A.I Safana1, Abubakar S1 , Usman H. B.2, YusufA M1, Yusuf M2 and
Muhammad H2

,Department of Biology, Umaru Musa Yar‟adua University,Katsina, Nigeria

2Department of Biology, Alqalam University,Katsina, Nigeria
* Corresponding Author: nasiru.hassan@umyu.edu.ng
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to determine the Phytochemical and antimicrobial properties of henna root extracts. Pit
excavation technique was adapted for collecting the henna roots. Phytochemical test was conducted to identify the
presence or absence of secondary metabolites namely; glycoside, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroid, Saponin,
carbohydrates, resins and lipids. Four of these metabolites i.e. Saponins, glycosides, flavonoids and steroids were
present, while alkaloids, lipids, resins and tannins are absent. Likewise, in the thin-layer chromatography of the
extracts a favorable impressive result showed four different bands of chemical compounds. The compounds present
showed blue colour, dark brown colour, light green colour and yellow colour with retention factors of 0.26, 0.31,
0.40 and 0.52 respectively. However, in the determination of the antibacterial properties, ethanolic extract of henna
roots was used. The Clinical Bacterial isolates used were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus
epidermisis, Bacillus sp and Klebsiella pneumonea. The isolates were cultured on Nutrient Agar. The result
obtained from this study revealed that, the crude extract of Lawsonia inermis root was effective against all the
strains of bacterial isolates tested, in each case the anti-microbial activity of the extract actually decrease in dilution.
The results were interpreted as Sensitive, Intermediate and Resistant depending on the diameter of the zone of
inhibition. The result showed that; among all the Bacterial pathogen tested, Bacillus spp showed highest degree of
sensitivity whith an average inhibitory zone of 17.00mm, followed by S. aureus (16.83mm), S. epidermidis
(16.33mm), and then E. coli (12.83mm). While Bacterial strain that showed the lowest degree of sensitivity was K.
pneumonia (11.16mm) that is describe to have an intermediate zone.Based on this research, further research to
identify and isolate the active components in the henna root is recommended and finally henna root is recommended
as an additional antibacterial therapy.

Keywords: extract, antibacterial, and henna

____________________________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION In humans, many phytochemicals have been

Phytochemicals are group of non-nutrient
bioactive compounds founded naturally in plant
parts such as flower, buds, roots, leaves, fruits,
barks. They are also found in spices, and
medicinal plants; and work in conjunction with
other plant components as a defensive
mechanisms for the plants against diseases and
many external attacks and they also provide
characteristic color, aroma and flavor in plant
(Chang, et al., 2006).
found to be protective and preventive against
many degeneratives diseases and pathological
processes such as in ageing, neurodegenerative
disorder, atherosclerosis and inflammation
(Kawo A.H. and Kwa A.M. 2011). Typical
phytochemical compound that possess
antioxidant activity include saponins,
glycosides, alkaloids, tannins, and their
derivatives, ascorbic acid, flavanoid, phytic acid
and many sterols. As antioxidant, these spices
are capable of removing free radical, chelate
metal catalyst, activate antioxidant enzymes,
reduce alpha-tocopherol radicals, and inhibit

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Katsina Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences VOL. 4 No. 2 September 2015 (ISSN: 2141-0755)

oxidaze (Nisa et al., 2013). Phytochemicals poultices and imbibed infusions of hundreds, if
provide plant with color ,odour, taste and not thousands of indigenous plants dating back
flavor. Once we eat them, however they can to prehistory. The development of new
influence the chemical process inside the antimicrobial agents is a research area of the
biological system of animals. utmost importance (Dinesh and Subhasree,
2006). Many medicinal plants are considered to
Phytochemical analysis is devoted to the be potential antimicrobial crude drugs as well as
publication of original article on utilization of a source for novel compounds with anti-
analytical methodology in the plant science. The microbial activity, with possibly new modes of
spectrum of coverage is broad encompassing action. This expectation that some naturally
methods and techniques, relevant to the occurring plant compounds can kill antibiotic-
extraction separation purification identification resistant strains of bacteria such as Bacillus
of substance in plant biochemistry, plant cellular cereus, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus and
and molecular biology plant, biotechnology, Staphylococcus aureus has been confirmed, for
science agriculture, and horticulture (Mukhtar example, by Friedman et. al., (2011).
MD and Okafor T 2002).
Almost all bacteria are invisible to the naked
People in rural areas use plant materials to cure
eye, with a few extremely rare exceptions, such
various diseases, because most of the plants
as Thiomargarita namibiensis (Schulz and
contain components of therapeutic values.
Jorgensen, 2001). They lack a nucleus and other
Among the important medicinal plants included
membrane-bound organelles, and can function
Lawsonia inermis, syn. L. alba (henna). Scientific
and reproduce as individual cells, but often
research on henna plant has proven many
aggregate in multicellular colonies ((Kawo A.H.
beneficial properties in henna. The henna plant
and Kwa A.M. 2011). Bacteria are surrounded by
extract has a variety of biological activities such
a cell wall, which provides strength and rigidity
as anticomplementary, anti-inflammatory,
to their cells. They reproduce by binary fission
analgesic, and antimicrobial activities. Major
or sometimes by budding. However, many
chemical compound in henna is lawsone
bacterial species can transfer DNA between
(C10H6O3), the active ingredient and a
individual cells by a process referred to as
naturally occurring naphthoquinone (Fatimah
natural transformation (Johnsborg et. al., 2007
et. al., 2013). The World is endowed with a rich
wealth of medicinal plants. Man cannot survive
HENNA
on this earth for long life without the plant
kingdom because the plant products and their
Henna, common name for a small shrub
active constituents played an important role to
(loosestrife) and for dye that is obtained from it
his survival. There is a widespread belief that
leaves. The shrub, which is also called alkanna
green medicines are healthier, more harmless
and mignonettes tree, grows in moist place in
and safer than synthetic ones. Medicinal plants
northern Africa and southern Asia. It bears
have been used to cure a number of diseases.
small fragrant, white or rose flower in clusters.
Though in some cases the recovery is slow, the
The orange–red dye produced from its leaves is
therapeutic use of medicinal plant is becoming
used extensively as a rinse to impart a reddish
popular because of its inability to cause side
color to hair. women of Muslim countries use
effects and its effect on antibiotic resistant
the dye to stain the nails and tips of their finger
microorganisms. Seeking healing by using
and parts of their feet; men of these countries
plants is an ancient practice (Dinesh and
use the dye to color their beards. The dye is also
Subhasree, 2009). Various cultures applied

©Umaru Musa Yar‟adua University, Katsina NIGERIA. All Rights Reserved…………………………… 152
Katsina Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences
used to stain leather and hides and to color the
hooves and manes of horses. Mummies have
been found wrapped in henna–dye cloth.
(Awek, et al., 2005.)
Scientific classification; henna belongs to the
family lythraceae. It is classified as lawsonia
inermis.Henna is a perennial shrub native to
North Africa, Asia and Australia. It is
naturalized and cultivated in tropics of America,
Egypt, India, and part of middle east. Lawsonia
inermis is widely distributed across the northern
and southern part of Nigeria (Wagini et al.,
2014).
Henna is mostly grow in home gardens and
commercial production is limited to a few place
in India , Pakistan , Iran , Egypt , Libya , Niger ,
Nigeria and Sudan . Lawsonia inermis is named
after Isaac Lawson , an 18th century Scottish
army doctor who was friend to Linnaeus and
inermis is a greek word means unarmed without
spines (Kawo A.H. and Kwa A.M. 2011).
Henna leaves , flower , seeds , stem , bark and
root have been found to exhibit anti oxide and ,
anti diabetic , hepatoprotectives, hypoglycemic ,
anti cancer and wound healing properties.
Lawsonia Inermis L. (Lythracaea) is much-
branched shrub that grows in middle east of
Africa is commonly known as mendi in
Guajarati. Henna in Hindi and Egyptian henna.
There are three types of henna like neutral
henna. Red henna and black henna. Neutral
henna, a green powder that smells like freshly
cut grass, is neither henna nor neutral. It is
cassia obovata, contains anthraquinones,
(Wagini, et al.,2014)
Particularly chrysophanic acid, a remarkable
anti fungal, anti microbial and anti-bacterial
compound. Cassia obovata does not color hair.
Red henna, a green powder that smells like hay,
is lawsonia inermis commonly known as henna.
The leaves of henna plant have a red-orange dye
©Umaru Musa Yar‟adua University, Katsina NIGERIA. All Rights Reserved…………………………… 153
VOL. 4 No. 2 September 2015 (ISSN: 2141-0755)
molecule: Lawsone, anaphthaquinone
compound. Henna will stain your hair red-
orange; but this stain is translucent and will
combine with your natural color. Black henna, a
green powder that smells like frozen peas, is
neither black nor henna. It is indigo, indiqofera
tinctoria ( Wagini et al,2014).
BIOLOGY OF HENNA
Genus Lawsonia bears one species, L. inermis
(Henna, Mhendi, Shudi, Madurang, Mendi,
Manghati, Madayantika and Goranti) (Gupta 2003)
till date, having different synonyms as alba and
spinosa belonging to family Lythraceae. It is a
biennial dicotyledonous herbaceous shrub. A
native of North Africa and South-West Asia, the
plant is now widely cultivated throughout the
tropics as an ornamental and dye plant (Sastri
1962). A much branched glabrous shrub or small
tree (2 to 6 m in height). Leaves are small,
opposite in arrangement along the branches,
sub-sessile, about 1.5 to 5 cm long, 0.5 to 2 cm
wide, greenish brown to dull green, elliptic to
broadly lanceolate with entire margin, petiole
short and glabrous and acute or obtuse apex
with tapering base (Chauhan and Pillai, 2007).
Young branches are green in colour and
quadrangular which turn red with age. Bark is
greyish brown, unarmed when young but
branches of older trees are spine tipped.
Inflorescence is a large pyramid shaped cyme.
Flowers are small, about 1 cm across, numerous,
fragrant, white or rose coloured with four
crumbled petals. Calyx is with a 0.2 cm tube and
0.3 cm spread lobes. Fruit is a small brown
coloured round capsule. Fruit opens irregularly
and splits into four sections at maturity and is
many seeded. Seeds are about 3 mm across,
numerous, smooth, pyramidal, hard and thick
seed coat with brownish coloration (Vasudevan
and Laddha, 2003).
Katsina Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant sample collection
The Henna root sample was collected from
Bumbum town 84km north east of Katsina in
Mai‟adua local government area of Katsina State
and it was identified as Lawsonia inermis using
available information in the department of
Biology, Umaru Musa Yar‟adua University
Katsina, Nigeria. The samples were collected on
20th August, 2015,10:45Am, at temperature of
270c, during rainy season.
Method of plant root collection
Pit excavation method was adapted; the method
is very informative for collecting the root. The
plant was dig until the base of the root was
reach, The plant cutter was used to cut the root.
After collection the root sample was
immediately separated from the soil particles by
washing the roots with pure water. Individual
sample washed with these apparatuses can take
from 3 to 5 minute per coarse and medium
texture soils to 25 minute per sample for the
textured soils. Improvement on time per sample
to wash a number of samples can be had by
operating several elutriations at once.The
method was that of Benjamin JG and Nielsen
DC (2004).
After Washed the organic debries from the root,
a technique is needed to cut the roots into small
pieces with scissor, than Air dried the root at
normal temperature, the dried roots were
ground into fine powder using mortar and
pestle in the laboratory and store in air tight
polythene bays/air tight container until used
(Benjamin JG and Nielsen DC 2004).
Extraction of plant material
The extraction was carried out according to the
method described below by James Redfan et al.,
2014.
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VOL. 4 No. 2 September 2015 (ISSN: 2141-0755)
The root sample was loaded into thimble. (In the
experiment an average of 12g of henna root in a
thimble was followed), the thimble was placed
inside the Soxhlet extractor. The side arm was
lagged with glass wool. The solvent (ethanol)
was heated using the isomantle and was begin
to evaporate, moving through the apparatus to
the condenser. The condensate then drips into
the reservoir containing the thimble. Once the
level of solvent rich the siphon it pours into the
flask and the circle begin again. The process was
run for a total of 5hrs. The setup of the
extraction it can be left to run without direct
supervision. It is not advice to leave the
equipment completely along due to the mix of
running water and an electrical appliance, so a
technician or other lab users should be made
aware. The equipment can be turned on and off
when overnight running is not permitted and
the time split over a number of days. For good
practice, a control was added. This could be
plant material that has no known phytochemical
analysis of henna root at the testing stage. The
dried extracts were kept in a freezer until
required for further analysis. (Wagini et al.,
2014).
Phytochemical screening of the plant extract
Phytochemical test was conducted to identify
the presence or absence of secondary
metabolites namely; Glycoside, alkaloids,
tannins, flavonoids, steroid, Saponin,
carbohydrates, resins, lipids
Thin layers chromotography (TLC)
The extraction of henna were spotted in
preparative TLC plates coated with silica gel
with chloroforms solution and the different
spots developed were observed by means of UV
light at 1 max 24nm and the retention time (RT)
were correspondingly calculated and recorded.
The individual solid spots are made visible by
treating the chromatogram with a reagent that
forms a colored derivative (usually iodine).
Katsina Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences
The spots will generally move at a certain
fraction of the rate at which the solvent mixture
moves, this is known as retention factors value
(RF Value)
RF= Distance moved by
solutes/Distance moved by solvent
The value is a characteristic for a given
substance and is constant.
Preparation of test solution
The stock solution was made according to the
method adopted by Deeni and Hussein, (1991).
One gram (1g) of the standard extract obtained
was dissolved in one mill (1ml) of distilled
water to yield 1.0g/ml (1,000,000ug/ml)
solution, these solution was labeled as stock
solution from which all other concentrations
were prepared (Serial dilution).
From the stock solution, 1ml was transferred
into a test tube containing 9ml of Ethanol, to
effect 10 times dilution, this give a concentration
of (100,000ug/ml), subsequently 1ml was
transferred into another test tube containing 9ml
Ethanol which gives a concentration of
10,000ug/ml, and this was further diluted to
yield 1,000ug/ml, 100ug/ml, 10ug/ml,
1.oug/ml and 0.1ug/ml respectively. The
concentrations were labeled and stored in a
refrigerator at 40C for further use.
Culturing and sensitivity testing
The organisms used in this study were Clinical
Bacterial isolates obtained from Biology
department of Umaru Musa Yar‟adua
University, Katsina. The isolates used were
Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus,
Staphylococcus epidermisis, Bacillus sp and
Klebsiella pneumonea. The isolates were cultured
on Nutrient Agar; Saboraud dextrose Agar
(SDA). Plates were prepared by dissolving 28g
of nutrient Agar in one Litre of distilled water.
The media was autoclaved at 221 for 15 minutes;
©Umaru Musa Yar‟adua University, Katsina NIGERIA. All Rights Reserved…………………………… 155
VOL. 4 No. 2 September 2015 (ISSN: 2141-0755)
about 10ml of this media was poured in each
plate and allowed to solidify before inoculation.
Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested
by Well-diffusion method. The test organism
were inoculated on the culture medium by
direct streaking method using a sterilized wire
loop. 0.1ml plant extract of given concentrations
were then dispensed in the plate containing the
inoculums with the aid of syringe (Agar well
diffusion method). The control well was
prepared by dispensing sterile distilled water as
negative control.
A pre-diffusion time of about 3-5 minutes was
allowed for the extracts to diffuse into the
medium after which the plates were incubated
at 370C for 24 hours. The degree of sensitivity
was determined by measuring the visible zone
of inhibition in millimeter with the help of
transparent plastic ruler, the diameter reading
were measured and recorded, this depends on
diffusion of extract from the disc into the
surrounding medium (Okigbo and Mmeka,
2008).
Calculation:
Mean (X) = ƩX /N
Where, ƩX = Sum of all values of variable
N = Number of observation
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Phytochemical screening
Fresh roots of Lawsonia inermis (Henna) were
collected and dried at room temperature, The
dried sample was grounded into fine powder
and extracted using ethanol in soxhlet extractor
as described by Mukhtar MD and Okafor T
(2002). The crude extract was subjected for the
determination of presence or absence of
secondary metabolites as shown in the table 1:
However, the phytochemical screening extract
confirmed the presence of four (4) secondary
 Katsina Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences VOL. 4 No. 2 September 2015 (ISSN: 2141-0755)

metabolites namely: saponin, glycoside, Phenolic compounds and tannins are believe to
flavonoid and steroid while alkaloid, lipids, be the most active compound for antimicrobial
resin and tannin were believed to be absent. activity in plant materials (Haslam E. 1996).
Table 1: Phytochimical screening of secondary
metabolites in henna root extract.
S/N PHYTOCHEMICALS STATUS (RF) value between maximum of 0.70 to a
1. Saponins Present (+) minimum of 0.25. The present compounds
2. Alkaloids Absent (-) showed different coloration such as:
3. Lipids Absent (-)
4. Glycosides Present (+) i. Blue color
5. Plavonoids Present (+) ii. Dark brown color
6. Steroids Present (+) iii. Light green color
7. Resins Absent (-) iv. Yellow color
8. Tannins Absent (-) The retention factors (RF) value for each bands
was recorded as; 0.26, 0.31, 0.40, 0.52, and
presented in table 2. The different retention
Alcohol soluble compounds includes flavonol, factors (RF) value of the compounds in TLC
alkaloids, tannins, sterols and polyphenols as plate reflect an idea about the polarity and
described by Ivanovska N et al., (1996). solubility of chemicals compounds in the
Therefore the compound that are absent in Table sample. The graphical representation of
1 are confirmed absent in the henna root extract retention factors (RF) value, versus peak value
since they are soluble in the used solvent and was presented in figure 1, and the picture of thin
could not be found in the crude extract of the layers chromatography was presented in figure
test plant. 2, that is identified as a amorphours material
which was showed as a brown spot in the silica
Thin Layers Chromotography (TLC) gel TLC (RF = 0.51) in a visible light. Wagini et
The thin layer chromatography (TLC) of henna al, (2014), reported that eight (8) different bands
root extracts give a favorable impression result of chemicals compounds with retention factors
that showed four (4) different bands of (RF) value was found in henna leave extract.
chemicals compounds, with the retention factors
Table 2: Retention factors (RF) of the chemicals effective against all the strains of bacterial isolates
compound present in root of L. inermis tested, in each case the anti-microbial activity of
extracts. the extract actually decrease in dilution as shown
in Table 3. The results were interpreted as
Peak Number Retention Factors Values
Sensitive, Intermediate and Resistant depending
1 0.26 on the diameter size of zone inhibition
2 0.31 (Kurbybeur, 1996, Dwwni Hussein, 1994 and
3 0.40 Ridgeway, 1980).
4 0.52
The root extract of Lawsonia inermis showed
antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, S.
Antibacterial screening of henna root ethanolic epidermidis, Bacillus sp and K. pneumonia. Among all
xtract the microbes, four (S. areus, E. coli, S. epidermidis
and Bacillus sp) showed high degree of sensitivity
The result obtained from this study revealed that,
to the root extract. While one specie; K. pneumonia,
the crude extract of Lawsonia inermis root was

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 Katsina Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences VOL. 4 No. 2 September 2015 (ISSN: 2141-0755)

showed an intermediate sensitivity to the root
extract. The result showed that; among all the
Bacterial pathogene tested, Bacillus sp showed
highest degree of sensitivity which have an
average inhibitory zone of 17.00mm, followed by
S. aureus (16.83mm), S. epidermidis (16.33mm), and
then E. coli (12.83mm). While Bacterial strain that
showed the lowest degree of sensitivity was K.
pneumonia (11.16mm) that is describe to have an
intermediate zone.

Table 3. The antibacterial effect of Ethanolic extract of Lawsonia inermis roots on the growth of
Bacterial isolates

SN TEST ISOLATE SOLVENT Concentration Zone of Inhibition AVERAGE

1. S. aureus Ethanol 10-1 = 23mm 16.83mm
10-2 =18mm
10-3 =17mm
10-4 = 15mm
10-5 = 11mm
10-6 = 17mm
2. E. coli Ethanol 10-1 = 20mm 12.83mm
10-2 = 14mm
10-3 = 10mm
10-4 = 12mm
10-5 = 15mm
10-6 = 6mm

3. S. epidermidis Ethanol 10-1 = 24mm 16.33mm

10-2 = 20mm
10-3 = 15mm
10-4 = 11mm
10-5 = 17mm
10-6 = 11mm
4. Bacillus sp Ethanol 10-1 = 30mm 17.00mm
10 = 20mm
-2

10-3 = 23mm
10-4 = 16mm
10-5 = 13mm
10-6 = R
5. Klebsiella Ethanol 10-1 = 27mm 11.16mm
pneumonia 10 = 25mm
-2

10-3 = 15mm
10-4 = R
10-5 = R
10-6 = R
KEY: Sensitive; Zone diameter greater than 12mm (>12mm), Intermediate; Zone diameter 8-12mm
Resistant; Zone diameter less than 8mm (<8mm)

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Katsina Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences VOL. 4 No. 2 September 2015 (ISSN: 2141-0755)

S. aureus E. coli S. epidermis Bacillus sp K. pneumonie

35
Diameter Zone of Inhibition (mm)

30

25

20

15

10

0
1 2 3 4 5 6

L. inermis Root Extract Dilution Factor

Fig. 1 Dilution factor and zone inhibition (mm) of henna root extract against bacteri

L. inermis (Henna) is frequently used as a herbal showed resistance at low concentration; Bacillus
remedy for an array of human disorder sp (at 10-6) and K. pneumonia (at 10-4, 10-5, and 10-
including wound, ulcer, cough, bronchitis, 6). This result is in agreement with the result

leucodema, scabies, boil, hepatopathy, reported by Pandey and Kumar (2011) who
spleenopathy, ophthalmic condition, falling of tested the antimicrobial activities of Henna
hairs, jaundice, burn, cure boil, bruises, leaves extract on three Bacterial pathogens
treatment of leprosy, antitubercloses activitiy, (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and
abortifacient, bitter, depurative and diarrhea etc. Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and found it to be
active against all the three Bacteria.
The root of L. inermis are used for abortificient,
bitter, depurative, burning disease amenorrhea Lawsone, the antimicrobial agent in henna
premature, falling of hair, treatment of leprosy, (Malekzadeh, 1968 and Sharma et. al., 1995)
strangury diuretic and antitubercloses activities exerted inhibitory effects upon common
etc. (R.S vaidyaratnam et al., 1995) nosocomial urinary tract pathogens such as
Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella
The ethanol extract of Lawsonia inermis root pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and
showed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia Staphylococcus aureus at certain concentrations
coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus (Bhuvaneswari et. al., 2002). Diacyl heptenoid
epidermidis, Bacillus sp and Klebsiella pneumoniae. and its Fyrosdia crosyenin were identified at the
In this work, ethanol extracts of Lawsonia constituent responsible for this activity (Saxena
inermis inhibits the bacterial pathogens et. al., 1990). Previous study by Prasirat et. al.,
Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus arvensis, (2014) proved that lawsone has been effective
Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus sp and against oral Candida albicans isolated from
Klebsiella pneumonea potentially at varying patients with HIV/AIDS. The antibacterial
concentration. This extracts control the bacterial activity may be attributed to not only a single
pathogen which cause different diseases to active principle but to a cocktain of a variety of
Humans. Only two species of the Bacteria active principles or alkaloid (Britto, 2001;

©Umaru Musa Yar‟adua University, Katsina NIGERIA. All Rights Reserved…………………………… 158
Katsina Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences
Eassawi and Srour, 2000; Bisignano et. al., 2000.
Osawa et al., 2000).
Several recent papers reported that the
presences of antibacterial activity are due to
flavonoides (Harborne, 1988). Alkaloids are
important defence of the plants against
pathogenic organisms and herbivores. It is also
toxin for insects which further modify the
alkaloids and incorporate them into their own
defense secretion. The result from this study
showed that Ethanol has been found to be an
effective solvent for extraction of the active
ingredient from roots. It is well established that
the β- asarones found in leaf, roots and rhizomes
tissues are responsible for almost all of the
antimicrobial activities of the Lawsonia inermis
(MacGaw et al., 2002).
Antimicrobial activity may be due to numerous
free hydroxyl ions that have the capability to
combine with the carbohydrates and proteins in
the bacterial cell wall. They may get attached to
enzyme sites rendering them inactive (Harborne
and Baxter, 1995).
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analyze root surface area. Plant Soil
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Y.Cc (2006). Comparisons on the
antioxidant properties of fresh, freeze-
dried and hot-air dried tomatoes. Journal
of Food Engineering, 77: 478 – 85.
Chauhan M.G. Pillai A.P.G. (2007), Microscopic
profile of powdered drug used in Indian
system of medicine, Edn 1, Vol. 2,
Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar,
Gujarat, pp. 84-85.
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