Phytochemical Analysis of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Seeds Powder of Sunut (Acacia nilotica L.), Bitter Apple (Citrullus colocynthis) L. (Schrad) and Senna (Cassia acutifolia) (Del.) and their Antibacterial Activity Against Xanthomonas campesteris pv malvacearum

Cotton (Gossypiun spp.) is one of the most important fiber and oil crop worldwide. It is cultivated in 
many countries over the world. Bacterial blight disease is a devastated disease of cotton. Systemic pesticides 
are the most effective tool of controlling bacterial blight disease which affects cotton, however they possess a 
real threaten to human, animals and environment. This study aimed to determine the active constituents of 
some Sudanese indigenous plants such as sunt (Acacia nilotica L), Bitter Apple (Citrullus Colocynthis L.) 
Schrad and Senna (Cassia acutifolia Del.)  Through phytochemical analysis of their seeds. In addition to 
reveal their anti-bacterial activity of their water and ethanolic extracts against causal agent of bacterial 
blight on cotton. Seeds of tested plants were collected from different parts of Gezira area. Tetracycline was 
used as a control. Phytochemical analysis was done to investigate active components of the previous 
mentioned plants.  Disc filter paper and diffused technique were used to evaluate the bacterial inhibition 
zone. Three concentrations of each plant extracts were tested at 350,550 and 750 ppm. Inhibition of 
bacterial growth for each treatment were measured by using an ordinary ruler in millimeter (mm). The 
results obtained from the phytochemical analysis revealed that, flavonoid, steroids, triterpenes, and 
alkaloids were detected in all plants under the study. However, tannins have been detected in Sunut and 
Senna whereas glycosides were detected in Hanzal as well as in Senna. Additionally, Senna was the only 
plant that has no Nitrogen base.  The interaction between those treatments revealed a very interesting result 
with highly significant (˂.001) between the plant and concentrations. On the other hand, the interaction 
between plant and extracts was not significant with value equal to (0.941). Among the tested plants, Hanzal 
has no effect on the growth of bacterial blight. On the other hand, Sunt and Senna inhibited the bacterial 
growth to different degrees.  Inhibition zone diameter produced by Snut and Senna ethanol extract reached 
to 22.22, 18.56 mm, respectively compared to Hanzal, while the inhibition zones of  water extract  of Snut 
and senna were 21.89, 26.78 mm, respectively. The ethanolic and water extracts of Sunut and Senna  seeds 
showed high antibacterial activity than Hanzal, based on the measured zone of inhibition .The water extract 
reflected  more antibacterial activity against the colonies grows of Xanthomonas campesteris pv 
malvacearum;  it was 19.86 mm and that  of ethanolic extract  was 18.278mm, The inhibition zone increased 
with the increased concentrations (i.e. Senna in 350,550,750 ppm the inhibition zones were18.333, 23.833, 
25.833mm, respectively). The study indicated that the potentiality of Sunut and Senna seeds extracts in the 
management of bacterial blight disease in cotton crop due to presence of bioactive compounds.