Antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of Kenyan medicinal plants
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Date
2008Author
Wagate, G. Cyrus
Gakuya, Daniel, W.
Nanyingi, Mark, O.
Njonge, Francis, K.
Mbaria, James M
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
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.
Citation
Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 103(7), 2008Publisher
Department of Public Health, pharmacology and Toxicology Department of clinical studies