MULTI-PLANT OR SINGLE-PLANT EXTRACTS, WHICH IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR LOCAL HEALING IN TANZANIA?

Authors

  • Joseph Nicolao Otieno Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences
  • Kennedy Macha Matengo Hosea University of Dar es Salaam
  • Herbert Valentine Lyaruu University of Dar es Salaam
  • Rogasian Lemmy Anselm Mahunnah Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences

Keywords:

Bioactivity, ethnomedicinal practices, mixed plant extracts, single plant extracts, Tanzania, traditional healers

Abstract

Use of multi-plant extracts against infectious diseases is increasing in rural Tanzania. The study evaluated this ethnomedicinal practice by using mixed root extracts of Carisa edulis, Ximenia caffra, Harrisonia abyssinica and Euclea natalensis against single extracts of the same plants. Disc diffusion assay and Tube dilution techniques were used to compare bioactivity of plant extracts in-vitro. The ANOVA test indicated significant difference (P < 0.05) between these extracts types. Multi-plant extracts had inhibition zones of up to 26mm as compared to 14mm for single extracts. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration for multi-plant extract was 8.3µg/ml against 69µg/ml for single extracts. Multi-plant extracts inhibited all the five test bacterial species while single extracts inhibited three species. Eight out of ten multi-plant extracts (80%) were bactericidal while only two out of four single extracts (50%) were bactericidal. Generally, multi-plant extracts were more superior over single plant extracts and could be developed into more potent antibiotics against resistant pathogens.

Author Biographies

Joseph Nicolao Otieno, Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences

Research scientist, Institute of Traditional Medicine

Kennedy Macha Matengo Hosea, University of Dar es Salaam

Lecturer, Molecular and Biotechnology Department

Herbert Valentine Lyaruu, University of Dar es Salaam

Senior Lecturer, Department of Botany

Rogasian Lemmy Anselm Mahunnah, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences

Ass. Research Professor, Institute of TraditionaL Medicine

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Published

2007-09-26

How to Cite

Otieno, J. N., Hosea, K. M. M., Lyaruu, H. V., & Mahunnah, R. L. A. (2007). MULTI-PLANT OR SINGLE-PLANT EXTRACTS, WHICH IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR LOCAL HEALING IN TANZANIA?. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 5(2), 165–172. Retrieved from https://journals.athmsi.org/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/244

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2008)

Section

Research Papers

License

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