Abstract
Guiera senegalensis (Gs) is a well-known traditional medicinal plant in Africa, whose leaves extract and roots powder are used for treatment of diseases and wounds in Western Kordufan, Sudan. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical analysis, toxicity, and the antifungal activity of Gs leaves extract. Extract of the leaves of Gs was tested for its antimicrobial activity against Stemphylium solani, Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma viride, Penicillium Spp., Fusarium verticillatum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Fusarium solani. This present study showed that Gs leaves extract has no inhibition activity against all of the tested fungal strains. On the other hand, the toxicity test, which was conducted by using brine shrimp, suggests that Gs leaves extract is apparently not toxic. The phytochemical screening revealed that Gs leave extract contains alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannin, carbohydrates, proteins, steroids, and saponins. The results of this preliminary investigation suggests that the medicinal plant extract may be safe to use as a drink for treatment of various diseases as has been practiced for years in the villages of Western Sudan. More research is needed to investigate if there is any side effect when the extract is taken orally. Further, the medicinal properties of the phytochemical compounds of Gs need to be further investigated.
Highlights
Several traditional medicinal plants, including Guiera senegalensis (Gs), a shrub that grows well in sub-Saharan Africa and Sudan [1], have been candidates for research because of their perceived medicinal properties
Our result are in general agreement with that obtained by Ref. [14] who observed that water extract of Gs given at the rate of 2 g/kg to Wister male and female rats showed no toxicity as confirmed by the evaluation of pathological changes in different organs, hematological parameters, and urinalysis
The results of the present study are in agreement with Ref. [15] who concluded that Gs aqueous leave extract is not toxic and may be safe, especially at the dose used for treatment, which is greatly lower than the doses used in their experiments
Summary
Several traditional medicinal plants, including Guiera senegalensis (Gs), a shrub that grows well in sub-Saharan Africa and Sudan [1], have been candidates for research because of their perceived medicinal properties. Evaluation of compounds such as, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids saponins, terpenoids and phenols have been used as a method of screening of medicinal plants [2]. Extracts of Leaves, shoots and galls of Gs were found to be useful against bacteria and fungi infections in Burkinabe folk medicine [7] These antimicrobial properties were credited to the crude methanolic extracts of Gs [8]. The aim of study was to examine the phytochemical properties, antimicrobial efficacy and toxicity of Gs leaves’ extract in order to find out their biological activity
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