ABSTRACT
The leaves extracts of Corchorus
olitorius, the family Malvaceae, are commonly called khudra, the plant extensively used in Sudanese traditional
medicine. The Sudanese varieties are one of the best in the market, which prompted
investigation of leaves extracts. Some chemical analyses of the leaves have
been done such as determination of ash content and trace elements (Ca, Fe, Mg,
and Na) by atomic absorption spectrometry. The 96% ethanolic, Ethyl acetate and
chloroform extracts exhibited significant antimicrobial activity and highlighted
the biological monitoring of activity in order to isolate the active metabolites
from the ethanolic extract of the leaves. The presence of sterols and triterpenes,
carotenoids, coumarins, alkaloids, saponins,
tannins, flavonoid and carbohydrates was confirmed by phytochemical screening
of the diethyl ether, methanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaves. The
extracts were screened in different solvent systems by thin layer chromatography.
The methanolic, Ethyl acetate extract exhibited significant antioxidant
activity. From the above-mentioned extract we prepare cream and ointment as antibacterial
and antifungal dosage forms.