Abstract
This study aimed to determine the medicinal significance of traditionally used Aloe plants by testing their crude extracts and Anthraquinone fractionates for antimicrobial activity against standard stock organisms. The significance of this study is to promote the discovery of new alternative to drugs currently being used. The gel and leaf cover of these four plants were extracted using cold ethanol extraction method and Anthraquinones were fractionated from the leaf cover using the liquid-liquid extraction technique. The extracts obtained were then screened in different concentrations for their antimicrobial activity against stock organisms Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC1 6538) and Escherchia coli (ATCC 25922) to access the activity of the aloe species against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. It was determined that the crude extracts of the gel and leaf part of the four aloe species had antimicrobial activity against gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative (Escherchia coli) bacteria and Escherchia coli showed the least sensitivity towards the four plant extracts while Staphylococcus aureus was highly susceptible.
Highlights
Traditional medicines, which include herbal remedies, acupuncture and spiritual therapies, have been used for millennia by various peoples to treat acute and chronic illnesses
It was determined that the crude extracts of the gel and leaf part of the four aloe species had antimicrobial activity against gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative (Escherchia coli) bacteria and Escherchia coli showed the least sensitivity towards the four plant extracts while Staphylococcus aureus was highly susceptible
In contrast to our study, the study done by BURHARI et al showed almost equal anti-bacterial activity against both pathogens while our study showed higher activity against Staphylococcus aureus than Escherchia coli [4] [10]
Summary
Traditional medicines, which include herbal remedies, acupuncture and spiritual therapies, have been used for millennia by various peoples to treat acute and chronic illnesses. The ancient people used the juice of Aloe as a remedy for the disturbing symptoms of ingestion of rancid or stale food and for intestinal gas. To cure wounds, stomach problems, constipation, headaches, alopecia (balding), skin irritations, oral problems and many other disturbances [2]. In Eritrea, there are nine aloe species, in which Aloe neosteudneri and Aloe scholleri are locally found whereas Aloe camperi, Aloe elegans, Aloe eumassawana, Aloe adigratana, Aloe macrocarpa, Aloe percrassa and Aloe trichosanta are regionally endemic. For this study Aloe camperi, Aloe elegans, Aloe eumassawana and Aloe scholleri are selected. In Eritrea they are used for abdominal discomforts, anti-dandruff, TB treatment, digestion problems, skin infections and skin moisturizer [3]
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