Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Capacities of Two Medicinal Plants Used against Urinary Infections in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities of extracts from Euphorbia hirta L. and Terminalia avicennioides GUILL & PERR. Methodology: The crude hydro-acetonic and aqueous extracts as well their fractionations were prepared. The total phenolic, flavonoids and tannins contents were assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminum chloride and vanillin acid methods, respectively. The antioxidant and antibacterial activities were investigated using standard methods. Results: Euphorbia hirta showed significant contents of total phenolic and flavonoids in n-Butanol (145.14 ± 1.37 GAE/100mg extracts) and ethyl acetate (23.56 ± 0.68 mg QE/ 100mg extracts) fractions. Total tannins were high in hydro-acétonique extract (11.18 ± 0.31 mg TAE/100mg extracts) and aqueous fraction (11.12 ± 0.28 mg TAE/100mg extracts) of Terminalia avicennioides stem barks. Extracts and fractions of both plants demonstrated a strongly antioxidant capacity through the free radicals scavenging and the ferric ions reducing. Concerning antimicrobial screening the extracts of Terminalia avicennioides were effective against 16 causative pathogens of urinary tract infections. Bactericidal effect against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Staphylococcus aureus and 2 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus strains was found with aqueous fraction of Terminalia avicennioides leaves. This fraction also highlighted a synergetic effect with some antibiotics used against these bacterial strains. Conclusion: Terminalia avicennioides leaves could be recommended as an herbal drug formulation for the urinary infections management.