title: In-vitro antimicrobial activity screening of some ethnoveterinary medicinal plants traditionally used against mastitis, wound and gastrointestinal tract complication in Tigray Region, Ethiopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To screen the antibacterial activity of nine ethnoveterinary plants traditionally used for the treatment of mastitis, wound and gastrointestinal complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hydroalcoholic exctracts of medicinal plants namely, Achyranthes aspera (A. aspera) L. (Family Asparagaceae), Ficus caria (F. caria) (Family Moraceae), Malvi parviflora (M. parviflora) (Family Malvaceae), Vernonia species (V. species) (local name Alakit, Family Asteraceae), Solanum hastifolium (S. hastifolium) (Family Solanaceae), Calpurinia aurea (C. aurea) (Ait) Benth (Family Fabaceae), Nicotiana tabacum (N. tabacum) L. (Family Solanaceae), Ziziphus spina-christi (Z. spina-christi) (Family Rhamnaceae), Croton macrostachys (C. macrostachys) (Family Euphorbiaceae), were screened against clinical bacterial isolates of veterinary importance from October 2007 to April 2009. The antibacterial activity was tested using disc diffusion at two concentrations (200 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL) and broth dilution methods using 70% methanol macerated leaf extracts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the exception of S. hastifolium all plant extracts exhibited antibacterial activity. Among the medicinal plants tested C. aurea, C. macrostachyus, A. aspera, N. tabacum and vernonia species (Alakit) showed the most promising antimicrobial properties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that many of the tested plants have antibacterial activity and supports the traditional usage of the plants for mastitis, wound and gastrointestinal complications treatment. Further studies into their toxicity and phytochemistry is advocated.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences P.O. Box 8146 Dep. N-0033 Oslo, Norway ; Mekelle University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Shewit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalayou
authors.forename: Mekonnen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haileselassie
authors.forename: Gebremedhin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gebre-Egziabher
authors.forename: Tsegay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tiku'e
authors.forename: Samson
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahle
authors.forename: Habtamu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taddele
authors.forename: Mussie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghezu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005002:Ethiopia; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Broth dilution methods mastitis; Disc diffusion test; Medicinal plants; Wound and food contaminants