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BackgroundWell known as teak, Tectona grandis is widely used in African folk medicine for its pharmacological relevance. In Cameroon, this species is a reputed laxative in the Northern Region while in the Western Region, it is used in the treatment of skin diseases and diarrhoea.Materials and methodsSeparation and isolation of compounds were performed using different chromatographic methods while their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques including MS and NMR, and by comparison of data with those reported in the literature. Isolated compounds as well as crude ethanol extract were tested for their antibacterial activities using broth micro-dilution method against four Gram negative bacteria strains Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA 01), Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 11296) and Escherichia aerogenes (ATCC 13048).ResultsThree known compounds were isolated, including two quinones and one triterpene. They were identified as tectograndone (1), 6-methyl-1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone (2), and 2β-hydroxyursolic acid (3) respectively. Crude ethanol extract showed good activity against the bacteria strains tested with MIC of 64–256 μg/mL. Among the isolated metabolites, 6-methyl-1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone exhibited a strong activity against Escherichia aerogenes with MIC of 16 μg/mL, while tectograndone showed a moderate activity against Escherichia coli with MIC of 32 μg/mL. The antibacterial screening of the fruits of this plant as well as that of compounds 1 and 2 is reported herein for the first time.ConclusionThe research work presented here shows that Tectona grandis fruits possess compounds which could be developed in the treatment of bacterial diseases.

BackgroundThe emergence of bacterial infections including those associated with Staphylococcus aureus causes a benefit of interest to medicinal plants as an effective means of control. The present study was designed to investigate the activities of 12 selected Cameroonian medicinal plants against S. aureus isolates.MethodsThe plant extracts were prepared by maceration in methanol at laboratory temperature. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed by chemical reaction methods. The broth microdilution method was used to evaluate the activities of plant extracts against 11 S. aureus clinical isolates.ResultsDacryodes edulis was found to have significant antibacterial activity on all the S. aureus isolates (MIC = 64–256 µg/ml). Occimum gratissimum revealed significant inhibitory activity on 9 of the 11 isolates while Commelina erecta and Spilanthes filicaulis revealed similar results on 6 of the 11 clinical isolates.ConclusionThe present findings showed that D. eduli, O. gratissimum,C. erecta and S. filicaulis possess interesting inhibitory properties against S. aureus species. These plants could therefore be good candidates to overcome infectious diseases associated with these microorganisms.

Background: Ethnopharmacological studies have been framework of well established biological properties of medicinal plants. Most of these scientific studies are performed on individual plants but natural medicine treatments most often use mixtures of plants. The present study was undertaken to investigate the activity of the methanol/methylene chloride extract mixture from M. myristica, X. aethiopica and E. speciosa against Candida albicans isolates. Materials and Methods: The plant extract was prepared by maceration in methanol/methylene chloride. phytochemical analysis was performed by chemical reaction method. The broth microdilution method was used to evaluate the in vitro activity against ten isolates of C. albicans. The in vivo antifungal activity of X. aethiopica: M. myristica mixture (1:1) was evaluated using a Candida albicans induced gastrointestinal infection in a rat model. Results: The results of the phytochemical tests indicate that alkaloids and triterpenes were present in all extracts, other classes of chemicals being selectively present. Extracts and their mixtures displayed various degrees of antifungal activities. Xylopia aethiopica: M. myristica mixture (1:1) with MIC values ranging from 32-256 µg mLG 1 was found to have the best antifungal activity. This mixture at 200 and 400 mg kgG 1 b.wt. were able to progressively and significantly reduce the fungal load in the faeces of the infected rats within the treatment period. Conclusion: The results of this study provide an important basis for the use of methanol/methylene chloride extract mixture from M. myristica and X. aethiopica to control infectious diseases caused by C. albicans. Further studies need to be carried out as to establish the role of E. speciosa in the mixture.