ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY HERBALISTS IN EASTERN PROVINCE, KENYA

Authors

  • P. G. Kareru
  • A. N. Gachanja
  • J. M. Keriko
  • G. M. Kenji

Keywords:

Terminalia brownii, inhibition zone, aqueous extract, Escherichia coli, Kenya

Abstract

The aqueous extracts from medicinal plants commonly used by herbalists in Mbeere, and Embu districts of Eastern province, Kenya, were tested for their inhibitory activity against three selected strains of bacteria. All the selected plant extracts (infusions: 1.0g sample in 100 ml water) investigated showed activity against Escherichia coli with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 5.8 – 18.0 mm. Terminalia brownii gave the largest inhibition zones against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Vernonia lasiopus and Tithonia diversifolia were inactive to S. aureus and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. Eighteen and sixteen plants showed sensitivity of greater than 10 mm against S. aureus and B. subtilis, respectively. All control discs gave zones of inhibition of 12 - 24 mm, which were larger than those of the extracts. The present study validated the use of the selected medicinal plants by the herbalists in the treatment of bacterial ailments caused by the strains of bacteria investigated. Medicinal plants used for non-bacterial diseases also exhibited sensitivity towards bacterial strains tested. This implied they could be used as multi-purpose medicinal plants.

Author Biographies

P. G. Kareru

Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. BOX 62000 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

A. N. Gachanja

Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. BOX 62000 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

J. M. Keriko

Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. BOX 62000 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

G. M. Kenji

Department of Food Science and Post-Harvest Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. BOX 62000 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

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Published

2007-09-04

How to Cite

Kareru, P. G., Gachanja, A. N., Keriko, J. M., & Kenji, G. M. (2007). ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY HERBALISTS IN EASTERN PROVINCE, KENYA. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 5(1), 51–55. Retrieved from https://journals.athmsi.org/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/324

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2008)

Section

Research Papers

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