title: In vitro antibacterial activity and acute toxicity studies of aqueous-methanol extract of Sida rhombifolia Linn. (Malvaceae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many bacteria among the Enterobacteria family are involved in infectious diseases and diarrhoea. Most of these bacteria become resistant to the most commonly used synthetic drugs in Cameroon. Natural substances seem to be an alternative to this problem. Thus the aim of this research was to investigate the in vitro antibacterial activity of the methanol and aqueous-methanol extracts of Sida rhombifolia Linn (Malvaceae) against seven pathogenic bacteria involved in diarrhoea. Acute toxicity of the most active extract was determined and major bioactive components were screened.
  
  
  METHODS
  The agar disc diffusion and the agar dilution method were used for the determination of inhibition diameters and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MICs) respectively. The acute toxicity study was performed according WHO protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The aqueous-methanol extract (1v:4v) was the most active with diameters of inhibition zones ranging from 8.7 - 23.6 mm, however at 200 microg/dic this activity was relatively weak compared to gentamycin. The MICs of the aqueous-methanol extract (1v:4v) varied from 49.40 to 78.30 microg/ml. Salmonella dysenteriae was the most sensitive (49.40 microg/ml). For the acute toxicity study, no deaths of rats were recorded. However, significant increase of some biochemical parameters such as aspartate amino-transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and creatinine (CRT) were found. The phytochemical analysis of the aqueous methanol extract indicated the presence of tannins, polyphenols, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids and saponins
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that the aqueous-methanol extract of S. rhombifolia exhibited moderate antibacterial activity. Some toxic effects were found when rats received more than 8 g/kg bw of extract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, PO Box 1364 University of Yaoundé, Yaoundé Cameroon.
authors.forename: Assam J P
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Assam
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dzoyem
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pieme
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Penlap
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D019660:Malvaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003404:Creatinine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase