Assessment of the antibacterial activity of Some traditional medicinal plants on some food-borne pathogens

Abstract

Abstract: Crude preparations of four types of traditional medicinal plants used in Ethiopia, collected from local markets, were assessed for their antimicrobial activity against some food-borne pathogens. The growth or inhibition of Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella boydii, Shigella flexineri, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli was determined in growth media separately containing Artemisia afra (5%), Vernonia amygdalina (7%), Lepidium sativum ((2%) and Carum copticum (10%). None of the test organisms was affected by Lepidium sativum in 24 hours. B. cereus and Staph. aureus had markedly lower final counts in media containing crude preparations of Vernonia amygdalina, Carum copticum, and Artemisia afra when compared to control. Retarding effect was noted on Sh. Flexineri and Sh. Boydii in the initial stages by Vernonia amygdalina and Artemisia afra. Counts of S. typhimurium in all crude preparations were lower by about one log unit than the control until eight hours. None of the crude preparations had any effect on E. coli. The antimicrobial effect of some of the crude preparations may be considerably enhanced in traditional treatment if they are taken at four hour intervals. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1999;13(3):211-216]