Antibacterial activity of plants used in traditional medicines of Ghana with particular reference to MRSA.
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2008
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Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance: : In an ethno botanical survey carried out in the Akwapim-North district of the Republic of Ghana, 25 plant species, used in traditional medicine to treat skin disease and/or to treat antimicrobial (viral, bacterial or protozoan) infections were identified. Aim of Study: : To investigate the antimicrobial activity of traditional Ghanaian medicines with special interest in anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity. Materials and methods: : Chloroform, ethanol and aqueous extracts (including use of a Stomacher) of these plants were prepared and agar-well diffusion tests, MIC's and MBC's were used to investigate antimicrobial activity. Results: Extracts of 13 plant species inhibited the growth of one or more of the following bacteria: MRSA, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris. Extracts from 11 of these 13 plant species also inhibited the growth of three or more of 14 additional clinical isolates of MRSA. Aqueous extracts of Alchornea cordifolia were active against all 21 bacterial strains tested and showed the highest levels of antibacterial activity overall with MIC's against MRSA in the range of 1.6-3.1 mg ml-1 and MBC's in the range of 6.3-12.5 mg ml-1. Conclusions: : The presence of antibacterial activity in extracts of Elaeophorbia drupifera, Rauwolfia vomitoria and the leaves of Solanum verbascifolium, plants traditionally used to treat skin infections, are reported for the first time. Extracts from Alchornea cordifolia, also used to treat wounds, had the widest spectrum of antibacterial activity.
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Antibacterial; Ghana; MRSA; Traditional medicines, EMTREE drug terms: alchornea cordifolia extract; allicin; Alstonia boonei extract; antiinfective agent; Balanites aegyptica extract; cassia alata extract; cassia occidentalis extract; Cassia podocarpa extract; Chenopodium ambrasioides extract; Combretum micranthium extract; Crateva religiosa extract; Cryptolepsis sanguinolenta extract; Elaeophorbia drupifera extract; Gardenia ternifolia extract; gentamicin; guava extract; Heliotropium indicum extract; Hoslundia opposita extract; Mitracarpus villosus extract; Momordica charantia extract; Ocimum viride extract; Parquetina nigrescens extract; Persea americana extract; Rauwolfia vomitoria extract; Ricinus communis extract; Solanum verbascifolium extract; Terminalia avicennoides extract; unclassified drug; vancomycin; Vernonia amygdalina extract, EMTREE medical terms: antibacterial activity; article; bacterial growth; controlled study; drug activity; Escherichia coli; Ghana; methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; nonhuman; Proteus vulgaris; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Streptococcus pyogenes; traditional medicine, MeSH: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Ghana; Medicine, African Traditional; Methicillin Resistance; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Staphylococcus aureus, Species Index: Alchornea cordifolia; Bacteria (microorganisms); Elaeophorbia drupifera; Escherichia coli; methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Proteus vulgaris; Protozoa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rauvolfia vomitoria; Solanum; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pyogenes
Citation
Pesewu, G. A., Cutler, R. R., & Humber, D. P. (2008). Antibacterial activity of plants used in traditional medicines of Ghana with particular reference to MRSA. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 116(1), 102-111