title: Antimicrobial properties of stem bark extracts from Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kuntze) Excell.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The plants of the genus Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae) are widely distributed in most tropical and subtropical countries, and have long been used in folk medicine to treat several diseases. Particularly, Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kuntze) Excell, commonly called "mbolongo" in Cameroon, is used by pygmies baka as a remedy for tetanus and wound infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the antimicrobial properties of Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kuntze) Excell (family Euphorbiaceae) stem bark used in Cameroon by baka pygmies as a remedy for wound healing and tetanus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aqueous and methanol extracts with and without defatting treatment, were prepared and their activity against Clostridium sporogenes ATCC 3584, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615, Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, was evaluated on the basis of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal-fungicidal concentration (MBC-MFC) by the macrodilution method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Water extract showed a weak activity against Clostridium sporogenes (MIC 900 μg/mL) and resulted inactive at the tested concentrations against all the other microorganisms. The defatted methanol extract, inactive against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, exhibited a very interesting activity against Clostridium sporogenes and Streptococcus pyogenes (MIC 100 μg/mL and 300 μg/mL, respectively), which seems to validate the use of this plant in pygmies traditional medicine for the treatment of tetanus and wound infections. The activity found against Streptococcus mutans (300 μg/mL), aetiological agent of caries, may suggest a possible use of this plant as natural remedy to prevent dental diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The activity against streptococci and Clostridium sporogenes ATCC 3584, showed by stem bark extracts of Phyllanthus muellerianus, traditionally used by baka pygmies to treat wound infections and tetanus, is reported for the first time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. gloria.brusotti@unipv.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brusotti
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cesari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frassà
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grisoli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dacarro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caccialanza
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044383:Black People; D003013:Clostridium / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D029803:Phyllanthus; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018547:Plant Stems; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013742:Tetanus
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts