Further evaluation of Rwandan medicinal plant extracts for their antimicrobial and antiviral activities.
A total of 45 Rwandan plant extracts, belonging to 37 different plant species out of 21 families, were investigated for their antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. The plants were selected on the base of their ethnomedicinal use against infections and autoimmune diseases. From all the plant extracts tested, only Clematis hirsuta (leaves) showed a pronounced antifungal activity against Candida albicans and the dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Microsporum canis. Seven plant extracts showed a high antiviral activity against the DNA-virus Herpes simplex type 1, while five and three plant extracts were highly active against the RNA-viruses Coxsackie and Polio, respectively. Only Macaranga kilimandscharica (leaves) showed an interesting anti-measles activity, whereas Eriosema montanum (leaves) and Entada abyssinica (leaves) were highly active against Semliki forest virus. Some plant extracts showed an antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and Mycobacterium fortuitum, but none of them were active against the Gram-negative bacteria tested.
Cos
P
P
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
Hermans
N
N
De Bruyne
T
T
Apers
S
S
Sindambiwe
J B
JB
Vanden Berghe
D
D
Pieters
L
L
Vlietinck
A J
AJ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012432:Rwanda
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts