Evaluation of Anti-Salmonellal Activities of the Aqueous andEthanolic Extracts of Selected Nigerian Medicinal Plants used Locally for Typhoid Fever Treatment

Usman SO(1), Okoro AU(2), Oreagba AI(3), Busari A(4), Agbaje EO(5),


(1) Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics & Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (CMUL), Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria
(2) Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics & Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (CMUL), Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria
(3) Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics & Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (CMUL), Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria
(4) Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics & Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (CMUL), Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria
(5) Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics & Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (CMUL), Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria
Corresponding Author

Abstract


Background: Many Nigerian medicinal plants are used locally for the treatment of typhoid fever by traditional medicine practitioners and herb sellers. However, the laboratory evaluation of the efficacy and anti-salmonellal activities of such plants are sparse.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-salmonellal activities of six Nigerian medicinal plants that are used locally for the treatment of typhoid fever.

Method: The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of six medicinal plants, viz. Ficus exasperata, Lannea egregia, Lophira alata, Mangifera indica, Momordica charantia and Morinda lucida were screened for in-vitro activities against Salmonella typhi. Kirby-bauer disc diffusion method was used to determine the inhibitory property of the extracts at concentrations of 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml. The plants were also screened for phytochemical components using standard methods.

Results: All the plant extracts, except the aqueous extracts of Lophira alata, Morinda lucida and ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia, exhibited significant anti-salmonellal activities at concentration of 100 mg/ml with the aqueous extract of Mangifera indica showing the highest anti-salmonellal activity producing zone of inhibition of 16.67±0.67 mm followed by ethanolic extracts of Morinda lucida (12.67±1.20 mm), Lannea egregia (11.33±0.33 mm), Ficus exasperata (11.00±0.00 mm), Lophira alata (10.33±0.33 mm) and Momordica charantia (aqueous extract) (8.33±4.26 mm). However, all the extracts were less active than amoxicillin (18.67±0.67 mm) and ciprofloxacin (38.67±0.33 mm).

Conclusion: Mangifera indica, Morinda lucida, Momordica charantia, Lannea egregia, Lophira alata and Ficus exasperata possess anti-salmonellal activities. This justifies their traditional use for the treatment of typhoid fever and their active constituents may serve as leads in the production of new anti-typhoid drugs.


Keywords


Nigerian medicinal plants, anti-salmonellal activities, typhoid fever

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