Phytochemical Screening, Antimicrobial Activities and Gas Chromatography Profile of the n-Hexane extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum “Fenugreek†Seed Oil

To evaluate the phytochemical constituents, antimicrobial activity, and GC profile of the seed oil extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum. In the present research, solvent extraction by maceration was performed by using 95% n-Hexane. Phytochemical analysis of the n-Hexane extract was carried out. Phytochemical screening showed that alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, balsam, and phenols were negative, while saponins, resins, terpenes, steroids and cardiac glycosides were positive. The Antimicrobial potential of Trigonella foenum-graecum seed oil extract was determined using the agar well diffusion method by the zone of inhibition on nutrient agar. MIC and MBC tests were performed to determine the relative antimicrobial properties of the extract. GC profile was also carried out to determine the constituents in the oil extracts. For the agar, well diffusion method of antimicrobial activity screening, all the concentrations of Trigonella foenum-graecum showed negative results in all the bacteria except for Bacillus subtilis. The extract is highly selective in terms of antimicrobial potency; the isolation of the active component(s) may present more insight. For the GC profile, 11 peaks were recorded.