Cent Afr J Med. 2001 Jun; 47(6): 155-8.

Anti-Salmonella activity of medicinal plants from Cameroon.

Nkuo-Akenji T, Ndip R, McThomas A, Fru EC.

Departments of Life Sciences and Chemistry, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, South West Province, Cameroon.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of herbal extracts derived from plants commonly prescribed by traditional practitioners for the treatment of typhoid fever. DESIGN: A cross sectional study. SETTING: Departments of Life Sciences and Chemistry, University of Buea, Cameroon. SUBJECTS: Methanol extracts of plant parts commonly used in Cameroon for the treatment of typhoid fever. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Antimicrobial activity was tested using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. RESULTS: Methanol extracts of plant parts commonly used in Cameroon for the treatment of typhoid fever were tested for antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, S. paratyphi and S. typhimurium. The formulations used were: 1) Formulation A comprising Cymbogogon citratus leaves, Carica papaya leaves, and Zea mays silk. 2) Formulation B comprising C. papaya roots, Mangifera indica leaves, Citrus limon fruit and C. citratus leaves. 3) C. papaya leaves. 4) Emilia coccinea whole plant. 5) Comelina bengalensis leaves. 6) Telfaria occidentalis leaves. 7) Gossypium arboreum whole plant. Antimicrobial activity was tested using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. Generally, Formulation A elicited inhibitory activity at a lower range of 0.02 to 0.06 mg/ml. Similarly, Formulation B elicited bacterial activity at the lowest range of 0.06 to 0.25 mg/ml. C. bengalensis leaves on the other hand, showed the lowest activity with a concentration range of 0.132 to 2.0 mg/ml and 1 to 4 mg/ml in MIC and MBC assays respectively. S. paratyphi was most sensitive to the formulations (concentration range of 0.02 to 1 mg/ml in both MIC and MBC assays) while S. typhimurium was the least sensitive and concentrations of up to 4 mg/ml were required to be bactericidal. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that plant extracts with low MIC and MBC values (1 mg/ml and lower) may contain compounds with therapeutic activity.