title: Methanolic extracts of Aloe secundiflora Engl. inhibits in vitro growth of tuberculosis and diarrhea-causing bacteria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The emergence of resistance to antimicrobials by pathogens has reached crisis levels, calling for identification of alternative means to combat diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine antimicrobial activity of crude methanolic extract of Aloe secundiflora Engl. from Lake Victoria region of Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  Extract was tested against four strains of mycobacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. kansasii, M. fortuitum and M. smegmatis), Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and a fungus Candida albicans. activity of the extract was determined using BACTEC(™) MGIT(™) 960 system. General antibacterial and antifungal activity was determined using standard procedures: zones of inhibition, Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and Minimum Bactericidal/Fungicidal Concentrations (MBCs/MFCs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract was potent against M. fortuitum, M. smegmatis and M. kansasii where it completely inhibited growth (Zero growth units (GUs)) in all the extract concentrations used. It gave strong antimycobacterial activity (157 GUs) against M. tuberculosis. It showed strong antimicrobial activity (P≤0.05), giving inhibition zones ≥9.00 mm against most microorganisms, such as P. aeruginosa (MIC 9.375 mg mL(-1) and MBC of 18.75 mg mL(-1)), E. coli (both MIC and MBC of 18.75 mg mL(-1)), S. aureus and S. typhi (both with MIC and MBC of 37.5 mg mL(-1)). Preliminary phytochemistry revealed presence of terpenoids, flavonoids and tannins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggests that Aloe secundiflora could be a rich source of antimicrobial agents. The result gives scientific backing to its use by the local people of Lake Victoria region of Kenya, in the management of conditions associated with the tested microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mariita
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Orodho
authors.forename: Paul O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Okemo
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirimuhuzya
authors.forename: Joseph N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Otieno
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Magadula