DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS, EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION (PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING) OF ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOUNDS FROM CIGARETTE

Abstract

The study deals with the determination of heavy metals, extraction, and characterization (phytochemical screening) of antimicrobial compounds from a cigarette. Two packs each of Pall Mall and Marlboro cigarettes were purchased from a mini-market at Obakekere off campus, FUTA. The cigarette packs where taken to the Department of Chemistry laboratory, Obakekere for analysis. The extracts in organic solvents (ethanol) were prepared for the study. Ethanol extracts of cigarette showed the presence of tannin, oxalate, phenol, alkaloid and phytic acid. Antimicrobial activity of the cigarette extracts was tested against bacteria (Streptococcus saluvarius, Lactobacillus paracasei, L. plantarum, L salvarius) and fungi(Pichia spp.1, Saccharomyces cereveseae, and Pichia spp. 2)by agar well diffusion method. The ethanol extract of both samples showed a significant range of inhibitory effect against the microorganisms at minimal inhibitory concentration. The mineral analysis reveals the level of Cu, Cr, and Zn present in the two samples with Zinc having the highest in Pall Mall brand PMC (0.87mg/kg) followed by Copper (0.73 mg/kg) in MBA brand. Thus, these results confirm the presence of antibacterial and antifungal compounds in the cigarette while compounds in cigarette show a higher zone of inhibition hence both the samples can be used as a source of antibiotics in the pharmaceutical industries.

Key words: Tobacco, Phytochemical, Cigarette, Antimicrobial, Heavy Metals