In vitro antifungal activity of methanolic extracts of different Senna didymobotrya (Fresen.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby plant parts

Background: Herbal medicines have been in use for many years and remain widespread in developing countries; whereas, the use of complementary alternative medicine is on the increase in developed countries. Senna didymobotrya is important for its medicinal benefits among most communities in treating a wide range of ailments.Materials and methods: Plants were collected from a cluster in Siaya, Nandi and Nakuru counties (Kenya). Stem bark, root bark, leaves, flowers and immature pods were obtained; air-dried and ground into fine powder. Methanol was used to extract the plant extracts. The extracts were reconstituted in water and incorporated into growth media to obtain 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%. Bioassays were carried out on T. tonsurans (ATCC 28942) and C. albicans (14053). The growth of cultures on the plates was measured over a period of sixteen days. The area under disease progress stairs was determined and subjected to ANOVA and comparison of means using LSD.Results: Results indicated that the growth of C. albicans was not significantly affected by the plant extracts. Growth of T. tonsurans was completely inhibited by immature pods extract at 10%, the leaves and flowers extracts inhibited the growth at 7.5%. The stem and root bark extracts inhibited growth at low dosages of 2.5- 5 %.Conclusion: There is need to carry out research on root and stem barks to identify the active phytochemicals that contribute to their high efficacies. On species conservation, harvesting of roots may lead to depletion of S. didymobotrya.Keywords: Senna didymobotrya, ringworms, candidiasis, tinea capiti

IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF DIFFERENT Senna didymobotrya (FRESEN.) H.S. IRWIN & BARNEBY PLANT PARTS

Background: Herbal medicines have been in use for many years and remain widespread in developing countries; whereas, the use of complementary alternative medicine is on the increase in developed countries. Senna didymobotrya is important for its medicinal benefits among most communities in treating a wide range of ailments. Materials and methods: Plants were collected from a cluster in Siaya, Nandi and Nakuru counties (Kenya). Stem bark, root bark, leaves, flowers and immature pods were obtained; air-dried and ground into fine powder. Methanol was used to extract the plant extracts. The extracts were reconstituted in water and incorporated into growth media to obtain 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%. Bioassays were carried out on T. tonsurans (ATCC 28942) and C. albicans (14053). The growth of cultures on the plates was measured over a period of sixteen days. The area under disease progress stairs was determined and subjected to ANOVA and comparison of means using LSD. Results: Results indicated that the growth of C. albicans was not significantly affected by the plant extracts. Growth of T. tonsurans was completely inhibited by immature pods extract at 10%, the leaves and flowers extracts inhibited the growth at 7.5%. The stem and root bark extracts inhibited growth at low dosages of 2.5- 5 %. Conclusion: There is need to carry out research on root and stem barks to identify the active phytochemicals that contribute to their high efficacies. On species conservation, harvesting of roots may lead to depletion of S. didymobotry

Antimicrobial acitivity of extracts from Tephrosia vogelii Hook F.

The dichloromethane extracts of the root and leaf of Tephrosia vogelii Hook F. (Family: Papilionaceae) grown in Kenya, were subjected to antimicrobial assays against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Fusarium phoseolida. The minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) ranged between 0.25 to 6.4 μg/ml for all the microorganisms tested. The crude root and leaf extracts were also toxic to the brine shrimps, organisms used as indicators of toxicity (LC50: 0.960; 0.958 μg/ml, respectively). Chromatographic separation led to the identification of (6aß, 12aß, 5'ß)-6a, 12a, 4',5'-tetra hydro-2,3-dimethoxy 5'-ß- isopropenyl–furano (3',2': 8,9)-6H-rotoxen-12-one, (rotenone) in 9.75% yield, (roots), and 11.75% (leaves). Characterisation was achieved by use of spectroscopic techniques and comparison with rotenone standard and literature data. Novel HPLC conditions for purification of rotenoids were established. The MIC of rotenone against the tested microbes was found to be 5.2 and 1.0 μg/ml for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli respectively, while the LC50 against the brine shrimps was found to be 3.20 μg/ml. The findings indicate that the extracts of T. vogelii contain metabolites that have antimicrobial activity comparable to other medicinal plants.Keywords: Tephrosia vogelii, Rotenone, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichiacoli, Fusarium phoseolida Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology Vol. 8 (1) 2006: pp. 1-1