Abstract

In Morocco, most people particularly in rural areas use medicinal plants to treat diseases. In order to find new anti-pneumococcal extracts, an ethnobotanical survey has been conducted in different regions of Marrakech (south of Morocco). Four plants often cited by traditional practitioners (Marrubium vulgare, Thymus pallidus, Eryngium ilicifolium and Lavandula stoechas) are tested againstStreptococcus pneumoniae responsible for pharyngitis, rhinitis, otitis and sinusitis infections. Aqueous and methanol extracts have been prepared and tested on S. pneumoniae collected in four regions of Marrakesh. A significant activity has been observed with methanol extracts of three of the plants; M. vulgare, T. pallidus andL. stoechas (MIC= 256 µg/ml).

 Key words: Streptococcus pneumoniae, antibacterial activity, medicinal plants, phytochemical screening