1.1 Background of the study

Chromolaenaodorata(Siamweed)ofthefamilyasteraceae(compositae).Itisanativeofcentral and South America  buthas spread throughout  the tropicalandsubtropical areasoftheworld(Vitaland Windell2009). Itisaperennial, diffuseandscrambling shrub whichgrowsto3 to7min height whengrowingin theopen.Itisnowamajorweedthatiswidespread in centralandwesternAfrica,tropical America,westIndia andsouthEastAsiaandwestern partinNigeria (Koiralaetal. 2005).Itthrivesinmostsoilsandisaprolificweed foundinabundance onopenwastelandandalongroad sides(Omokhuaetal.2015;Naidooetal.2010;Grierson andAfolayan1999).Itisusedasanantibacterial, antiplasmodic, antiprotozoal,antitrypanosomal, antimicrobial,antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, astringent andhepatotropicagent (Phanet al. 2010; Akinmoladunetal.2007;Naidooetal.2011;Omokhuaetal. 2015).

The plant has also been claimed to have wound healing and diuretic activities (Sirinthipaporn 2017; Thang et al. 2010).  It is also claimed to be applied tropically as an antidote against the sting from the spine of the commonsea catfish (Chakraborty et al. 2011). An aqueousdecoction of the roots is used as an antipyretic and analgesic remedy and a leaf extract with salt is used as a gargle for sore throats and colds. Fresh leaves or a decoction of C. odorata have been used throughout Vietnam for many years as well as in other tropical countries for the treatment of leech bite, soft tissue wounds, burn wounds, skin infection and dento-alveolitis(Thang et al. 2010). A poultice of leaves is traditionally applied onto cuts or wounds to stop bleeding and promote healing (Vaisakh and Anima Pandey 2012). An aqueous decoction of the roots is used as an antipyretic and analgesic remedy, and a leaf extract with salt is used as a gargle for sore throats and colds (Bassey et al., 2013).The aqueous and decoction of the leaves is used for the treatment of the soft wounds, burn wounds andskininfections (Vaisakh andAnimaPandey2012; Sirinthipaporn2017).

Plantscomeinhandyaseasy sourcesofactive antimicrobial agents(Okwu,2004).However,according toVitalandWindell(2009),plantsmustbeassessed froma scientificviewpoint in orderforthemto be understoodandreach theirrightfulrole incontributingto affordable healthcare.Successive solventextraction, chromatographyseparationandspectroscopymethodare usedtodeterminethechemicalconstituents ofplantand toknowthebioactivitiesintraditionalmedicine(Vital andWindell2009).  Asystematic searchforuseful bioactivities frommedicinalplantsisnowconsideredto bearationalapproachinnutraceuticaland drugresearch. Driven bytheabove informationandtheneedforfurther exploitation of wild plant for possible novel antimicrobial substances, thisstudywasthereforeaimed atscreeningfortheactiveprinciplesoringredientsofChromolaenaodorataleavescollectedfromFederalPolytechnic Oko,AnambraStatepremisesforpossible isolation/identification ofnovelantimicrobial substances.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Plant based antimicrobials represent a vast potential of untapped sources of medicines and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns change over time, as microorganisms constantly develop resistance to existing antimicrobial drugs. This worrisome trend makes the continuous search for new and more efficacious antimicrobial agents imperative. The last decade witnessed an increase in the investigation of plants as a source of drugs for treatment of disease for plant, animals and man. Overcoming antimicrobial resistance is therefore a major challenge in this millennium. Thus, this worrisome trend and challenge posed by these microorganisms necessitated the need for this study on evaluating the bioactive ingredients of the leaves extract of siam weed.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the phytochemical properties of siam weed water and ethanol extract.

Specifically this study will do the following:

1. Extract phytochemicals from the Siam weed.

2. Determine the types of phytochemicals present in the extracts.

3. Compare the phytochemicals present in the water and ethanol solvent extracts.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What method was used to extract phytochemicals from the siam weed?

2. What are the types of phytochemicals present in the extracts?

3. What are the differences in the phytochemicals present in the water and ethanol extracts?

1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This work will carry out phytochemical analysis of the leaves of siam weed obtained from Oko town in Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. This analysis will be carried out in the Microbiology Laboratory of the department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra state.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

1. The results gotten from this study will be used for reference purposes for further studies on the plant.

2. The results from this research work can lead to a development of a novel vaccine or drug that can be used against the resistant microorganisms that cause various health issues and ailments for man and animals.