Antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of Kenyan medicinal plants

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2008 Nov;103(7):650-2. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762008000700004.

Abstract

Seven medicinal plant extracts traditionally used in Kenya, mainly for management of infectious conditions, were chosen and screened for their antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Antibacterial activity was tested using the broth dilution method. Harrisonia abyssinica and Terminalia kilimandscharica extracts showed significant activity against Gram+ and Gram- bacteria. The methanolic extracts of T. kilimandscharica bark and H. abyssinica bark and leaves showed minimum inhibitory activity against all tested bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 25-150 mg/mL. Ajuga remota and Amaranthus hybridus, which are lethal to brine shrimp nauplii, showed significantly lower antibacterial activity than those that were relatively non-toxic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / toxicity
  • Artemia / drug effects
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Kenya
  • Lethal Dose 50
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Plants, Medicinal / classification
  • Plants, Medicinal / toxicity

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Plant Extracts