title: Zulu medicinal plants with antibacterial activity.
abstract: Aqueous, methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of 14 plants used in traditional Zulu medicine for treatment of ailments of an infectious nature were screened for antibacterial activity. Most of the activity detected was against gram-positive bacteria. Tuber bark extracts of Dioscorea sylvatica had activity against gram-negative Escherichia coli and extracts of Dioscorea dregeana, Cheilanthes viridis and Vernonia colorata were active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The highest antibacterial activity was found in extracts of C. viridis, D. dregeana, D. silvatica, Melianthus comosus and V. colorata. In general, methanolic extracts exhibited higher activity than aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Plant Growth and Development, School of Botany and Zoology, University of Natal Pietermaritzburg, Scottsville, South Africa.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kelmanson
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Staden
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts