Abstract

   Ethanolic extracts were prepared from Bambusa vulgaris and Aframomum melegueta. They were analysed for antiviral activities against three human viruses namely: measles, yellow fever and polio viruses by standard laboratory tests. Both extracts showed antiviral activities against one or two viruses. B. vulgaris resulted in inhibition only on measles virus at MIC of 62.5 µg/ml while A. melegueta inhibited measles and yellow fever viruses at MICs of 125 and 250 µg/ml respectively. Polio virus type 1 was not susceptible to any of these extracts.

Key words: Bambusa vulgaris, Aframomum melegueta. antiviral measles, yellow fever and polio viruses.