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Crude extracts activity of three selected medicinal plants from the Venda region against some pathogenic organisms


Khumbelo Mabadahanye
Nolwazi L Bhembe
Ezekiel Green

Abstract

Background: The emerging of antimicrobial resistance has become a problem as it is threatening public health worldwide.


Objectives: To extract crude extracts from three different medicinal plants, test activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and screen for phytochemicals of those that showed activity against the targeted bacteria.


Methods: Kirkia acuminata Oliv., Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. and Mimusops zeyheri Sond. plants were collected at Thengwe area, Mafukani village, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The plant materials collected were extracted using four solvents. Antimicrobial screening was accomplished using the agar well diffusion method and the crude extracts that showed activity against the targeted organisms were screened for phytochemicals using different tests.


Results: With all solvents used for extraction, methanol had a greater yield of 14.1% from Dichrostachys cinerea crude extracts. Kirkia acuminata and Dichrostachys cinerea were medicinal plants that inhibited Mycobacterium smegmatis and Staphylococcus aureus at the lowest concentration of 2.5 mg/ml and 1.25 mg/ml.


Conclusions: The results from this study show that the selected medicinal plants are active against Mycobacterium smegmatis and Staphylococcus aureus and their pharmacological properties can be further analyzed for the development of new drugs.


Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; crude extracts; medicinal plants; phytochemicals.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905