Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of extracts of five aromatic and medicinal plants from Burkina Faso

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is a global concern word wild. New antibacterials are urgently needed to fight this problem. Indeed, medicinal plants are a  potential source of new antimicrobial molecules. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of extracts of five aromatic and  medicinal plants from Burkina Faso. Phytochemical screening by solution reactions in test tubes and by Thin Layer Chromatography was performed. The  antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated by the impregnated disc diffusion method and the microdilution method. Phytochemical screening of  the extracts of the different plants studied allowed the identification of secondary metabolites such as tannins, flavonoids, and saponosides. The  methanol extract of E. camaldulensis showed the best antimicrobial activity against Gram + bacteria, especially against Staphylococcus saprophyticus with  an inhibition zone diameter of 16.33 mm and a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 156 µg/ml. Then, the methanol extract of C. nardus showed the best inhibitory activity on the Gram- Escherichia coli ATCC 35218 with an inhibition zone diameter of 11.66 ± 0.57 mm. These results could justify the  traditional use of the studied plants in the treatment of certain pathologies in public health. In perspective, a bioguided fractionation of the active  extracts will be performed to isolate and elucidate the structure of the compounds responsible for the activity.