Abstract Detail

Economic Botany Section

Adongbede, Erute [1], Egboduku, Wisdom [2].

The inhibitory effects of extracts of medicinal plants used in treating infectious diseases in Delta State Southern Nigeria.

Twenty one medicinal plants used in folklore medicine for treating infectious diseases were investigated as possible new sources of antibacterial agents. The antibacterial activity of chloroform, ethanol, methanol, n-hexane and water extracts were of the test plants were assessed against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using the paper disc diffusion method. The plants that were most active against E. coli were Etlingera indica, Canna indica Acalypha wilkesiana, Cymbopogon citratus and Azadirachta indica with the methanol fraction showing higher degree of inhibition than the ethanol and other extracts in most plants tested. The most active plants against S. aureus were Senna alata, Etlingera elatoir, Cympobogon citratus, Canna indica and Nauclea latifolia. The n-hexane, chloroform extracts of the plant Carica papaya, and the aqueous extract of Canna indica and methanol and aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum did not inhibit the growth of E. coli. Ten and seven plants within the ethanol fraction of all plants tested showed inhibition zones comparable with the best of the standard antibiotics against S. aureus and E. coli respectively. In the methanol fraction a total of 12 and 14 of the test plants performed as well as the best standard antibiotic and even better with S. aureus and E. coli respectively. Only two and one plants within the n-hexane fraction performed better and as well as the best standard antibiotics tested against S. aureus and E. coli respectively. Fourteen and two plants with the chloroform extracts as good as the standard antibiotics tested as they recorded inhibition zones higher than the standard antibiotics for S. aureus and E. coli respectively. None of the aqueous extract performed as well as the best antibiotics (Rocephin, ciproflacin and streptomycin) tested for S. aureus and E. coli with inhibition zones within the range of 12-14mm. Plants used traditionally for treating infectious diseases show potentials as new sources for antimicrobial agents.

1 - University of Lagos, Botany, University Road, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, 01234, Nigeria
2 - Delta State University, Botany, Abraka, Abraka, Delta, Nigeria

Keywords:
Antibacterial
Medicinal plants
Zone of inhibition
Antibiotics
Infectious diseases.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PEN004
Abstract ID:335
Candidate for Awards:None