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Antibacterial activities of plants from Central Africa used traditionally by the Bakola pygmies for treating respiratory and tuberculosis-related symptoms
Identifier
027927
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
J Ethnopharmacol. 2014 Aug 8;155(1):123-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.04.032. Epub 2014 Apr 28.
Antibacterial activities of plants from Central Africa used traditionally by the Bakola pygmies for treating respiratory and tuberculosis-related symptoms.
Fomogne-Fodjo MC1, Van Vuuren S2, Ndinteh DT3, Krause RW4, Olivier DK2.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
The antibacterial activities of 18 plants from 10 different families were investigated for their antimicrobial efficacy, based on the traditional uses of these species by Bakola pygmies living in Central Africa, especially along the Ngoyang area in Cameroon for the treatment of respiratory and tuberculosis-related symptoms. The aim of the study is to test the antimicrobial efficacy of these plants against some pathogens associated with respiratory disease and to determine if there is any validation for the traditional use against Mycobacterium species.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Medium polar extracts were prepared in MeOH/DCM (1:1, v/v) from the plant parts of each species used traditionally and were assayed against pathogens associated with respiratory tract ailments [Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883) and Morexella cattarhalis (ATCC 14468)] using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Two additional faster growing Mycobacterium strains [Mycobacterium smegmatis (ATCC 23246) and Mycobacterium aurum (NCTC 10437)] were included in the assay as predictive test organisms for the more pathogenic strain Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
RESULTS:
Some plant species, such as Alchornea floribunda, Musanga cecropioides (both leaves and stem bark), Tetracera potatoria and Xylopia aethiopica (stem bark), were effective in inhibiting Morexella cattarhalis, having MIC values between 65 and 250 μg/mL. Some noteworthy antimycobacterial inhibition (MIC≤200 μg/mL and as low as MIC 6.5 µg/mL) for 54% of the extracts were observed.
CONCLUSION:
While moderate activity was shown for pathogens causing respiratory tract infections, these plant species seems to be selectively targeting Mycobacteria spp. suggesting that the traditional use for treating tuberculosis related symptoms may be indeed be accurate.
Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
KEYWORDS:
Antibacterial; Antimycobacterial; Central Africa; Medicinal plants; Tuberculosis
PMID:
24786571
DOI:
10.1016/j.jep.2014.04.032