Table 1.
Antimicrobial activity (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC) of four plants used by Batswana traditional health practitioners to treat skin diseases. For the plant extracts, the values in bold are considered as noteworthy (MIC ≤ 1 mg/mL) antimicrobial activity. MeOH = methanol, PE = petroleum ether, * positive control (µg/mL) and na = not applicable.
| Plant, Voucher No., Family | Plant Part | Extract Yield (% w/w) | Solvent Extract | Antibacterial Activity MIC (mg/mL) | Antifungal Activity MIC (mg/mL) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacillus cereus | Shigella flexneri | Candida glabrata | Candida krusei | Trichophyton rubrum | Trichophyton tonsurans | ||||
| Drimia sanguinea (Schinz) Jessop Ja004, Asparagaceae | Bulb | 7 | 50% MeOH | 6.25 | 6.25 | 3.125 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 6.25 |
| 6 | PE | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 3.125 | 3.125 | 6.25 | ||
| Elephantorrhiza elephantina Benth (Burch) Ja015, Fabaceae | Rhizome | 22 | 50% MeOH | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.10 | 3.125 | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| 6 | PE | 3.125 | 3.125 | 3.125 | 6.25 | 3.125 | 6.25 | ||
| Helichrysum paronychioides DC. Humbert Ja037, Asteraceae | Whole plant | 9 | 50% MeOH | 0.39 | 0.39 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 0.39 |
| 3 | PE | 1.56 | 0.10 | 1.56 | 0.39 | 3.125 | 0.39 | ||
| Senecio longiflorus (DC). Sch.Bip Ja071, Asteraceae | Stem & leaves | 10 | 50% MeOH | 6.25 | 0.10 | 3.125 | 6.25 | 3.125 | 3.125 |
| 4 | PE | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 12.5 | 3.125 | 6.25 | ||
| * Neomycin (μg/mL) | 1.56 | 0.78 | na | na | na | na | |||
| * Amphotericin B (μg/mL) | na | na | 0.78 | 1.56 | 0.78 | 0.78 | |||