Preparation of the extract
The flowers were washed under tap water, air dried, homogenized to fine powder and stored in airtight bottles. Ten grams of dried powder was first defatted with petroleum ether and then extracted with methanol using Soxhlet apparatus (14). The solvent was evaporated to dryness and the dried crude extract was stored in airtight bottle at 4°C. The percentage yield of methanol extract was 36%. For testing, the Woodfordia fruticosa methanol (WFM) extract was dissolved in sterile distilled water and diluted to the desired concentrations.