Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3843

Full Length Research Paper

The possible role of medicinal plants in tackling resistant microbial pathogens in Limpopo Province, South Africa

J. N. Ramalivhana1*, S. R. Moyo1 and C. L. Obi2
1College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of South Africa. 2Academic and Research Division, Walter Sisulu University, Nelson Mandela Drive, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 16 March 2010
  •  Published: 04 June 2010

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial activities of nine selected medicinal plants against metheciline resistance coagulase negative Staphylococcus, metheciline resistance Staphylococcus aureus and extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloace and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. The grounded plant materials were extracted with different extractants and screened for anti-microbial activity using the disk diffusion, micro-dilution techniques and bioautographic methods. Preliminary screening revealed that methanol extracts were most active against all assayed bacteria. Metheciline resistance coagulase negative Staphylococcusand metheciline resistance S. aureus were found to be susceptible to all crude methanolic extracts of all tested plants (100%), followed by P. aeroginosa and extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. coli, E. cloace. Contact biautography indicated that Schotia brachypetala extracts possess one major anti-microbial component against extended spectrum beta-lactamase producingE. coli E. cloace and four components against P. aeroginosa The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration recorded for  the different crude methanol extracts against metheciline resistance coagulase negative Staphylococcus, metheciline resistance S. aureus and extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. coliE. cloace and P. aeroginosa were 500, 125 and 250 ug/ml respectively. This study also confirm the antimicrobial potential of investigated plants and their usefulness in treatment of resistance microorganisms both gram-negative and gram-positive

 

Key words: Metheciline resistance coagulase negative Staphylococcus,metheciline resistance Staphylococcus aureus, extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacePseudomonas aeroginosa.