Background: Microbial infections are one of the major causes of death globally. This is attributed to the rising costs of primary healthcare and its inaccessibility especially in developing countries. Moreover, there has been an increase in microbial strains that have reduced susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs. Research on the antimicrobial properties of medicinal plants, which could address these problems, has become more important as they present fewer side effects when compared to the antibiotics currently in use. This study evaluated the antimicrobial properties of a methanolic extract from Buxus macowanii in order to assess its potential in the development of novel antimicrobial drugs. Methods: Antimicrobial activity of the extract was evaluated using the broth microdilution method. The effects of B. macowanii on the morphology of B. cereus were observed using Scanning and Transmission electron microscopy. Chemical profiling of the plant extract was performed using the GCMS. Results: The extract showed antimicrobial activity against all the microbial species used. Microscopic examination of the cells of B. cereus cells treated with Buxus macowanii showed some changes in morphology such as damage of the cell wall, swelling of the cells and incomplete cell division that eventually resulted in cell death. Neophytadiene, an antimicrobial compound was detected in the extract using GCMS. Conclusion: The morphological disruptions of the cell wall of Bacillus cereus explain the antimicrobial properties of B. macowanii and indicate its possible application in the development of natural antimicrobial drugs.

Information on medicinal plant use in the Free State Province of South Africa is readily available in literature 20-28 however; none is focused on the treatment of STIs in this particular region. Similar studies in South Africa have been carried out in other provinces for example, ethnic groups like Bapedi and Vhavenda in Limpopo, [29][30][31][32][33][34] Zulu people in Kwa-Zulu Natal province, 35,36 Tsonga people in

phenotypes to visitors. Single visitation experiments showed that native flowers received more pollen, and set more seeds per visit, than introduced phenotypes. This suggests that the degree of mechanical fit between the flowers and the visitors determines the effectiveness of visits. We provide strong evidence that floral divergence among plant populations occurs when populations shift from one visitor community to another functionally different visitor community.