Abstract
Background: Increased resistance against antimicrobial medication used to combat bacterial infection necessitates the need for alternative medication. Objective: This study seeks to evaluate the antimicrobial potential and phytochemical profiles of 10 medicinal plants collected from Chuka, Tharaka-Nithi County of Kenya. Plant samples were collected, dried, pulverised into fine powders and extracted with distilled water. Methodology: Qualitative phytochemical screening and disc-agar diffusion methods were used according to standard method to determine phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extracts against four bacterial strains and a fungus. Results: Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of terpenoids, tannins and reducing sugars in all the plants except one. Saponins were found to be present in Albizia anthelmintica, Entada leptostachya, Raponae rhododendroides and Warbugia ugandensis. Steroids were present in seven plants while alkaloids were present in five. Albizia anthelmintica, E. leptostachya and W. ugandensis extracts were active against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Escherichia coli was the most susceptible bacteria against all the plant extracts tested, except Harrisonia abyssinica. Vernonia lasiopus and Uvariodendron anisatum were the least active extracts. Susceptibility against E. coli and C. albicans was significantly comparable to benzathine penicillin and streptomycin. Conclusion: The type of ailments the plants are claimed to treat can be attributed to the presence of various classes of phytochemicals. In conclusion, the plants evaluated were found to be active against the microorganisms tested.
Highlights
Antibiotics are the main basis for therapy provision of bacterial and fungal infections (Khan et al 2009)
Saponins were found to be present in Vernonia lasiopus, A. anthelmintica, Entada leptostachya, Raponae rhododendroides and Warbugia ugandensis
Steroids were found to be present in A. anthelmintica, E. leptostachya, W. ugandensis, Uvariodendron anisatum, H. abyssinica and Zanthoxylum usambarensis, while V. lasiopus, A. anthelmintica, E. leptostachya, R. rhododendroides and
Summary
Antibiotics are the main basis for therapy provision of bacterial and fungal infections (Khan et al 2009). Since their discovery, it was believed that this would eventually lead to the eradication of infectious diseases. The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens threatens the clinical efficacy of many existing antibiotics (Parekh & Chanda 2007). Multidrug-resistant strains of E. coli and K. pneumoniae are widely distributed in hospitals (Khan & Musharraf 2004). These strains are increasingly being isolated from community-acquired infections (Akram, Shahid & Khan 2007). Increased resistance against antimicrobial medication used to combat bacterial infection necessitates the need for alternative medication
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
