In vitro antibacterial activity of Aqueous, ethanol and methanol flower extracts of chamomile alone and in combination with tetracycline by the use of agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus as gram positive bacterium and Escherichia. coli, Proteus sp. and Klebsiella sp. as gram negative bacteria was studied. It was found that chamomile aqueous extract has no inhibitory effects against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Ethanolic and methanolic extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus at the concentration 1000mg/ml. The diameter of the inhibition zones of S. aureus was 15 mm for Ethanol extract and 12mm at for methanol extract. No antibacterial effect on E. coli, Proteus and Klebsiella for the two extracts. The synergistic effect between the combination of tetracycline with chamomile extracts (ethanol and methanol) (vol./vol.) on S. aureus was studied. It was found that all the combinations proved strong inhibitory effect against S. aureus with different inhibition zone diameters ranged from 23 mm to 35 mm.

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This experiment was conducted in order to estimate azulene and apigenin in chamomile flowers. Ethanol extracts were examined singly or in combination with some drugs in their biological activity against some pathogens causing skin infection. Ethanol extract was applied at a concentration of 40 mg/ml for the treatment of induced skin infection of mice. Among the topicals used, Claforan was found the most effective on microorganisms causing skin diseases; ethanol extract was more effective than the drug Candimazole solution 1%. HPLC was used for the determination of azulene and apigenin active compounds of chamomile plant.

Abstract:The use of medicinal plants in South Africa is cultural. Withania somnifera is one of the medicinal plants used to treat various ailments in the country. The plant species has been used by traditional medicine practitioners to treat inflammation and painful conditions like rheumatism. It is also known to be used as a sedative and hypnotic drug. Despite the claims, there is no information in literature to corroborate the therapeutic success of Withania somnifera in the treatment of inflammation and insomnia. The study, therefore, investigated the anti-inflammatory and central nervous system depressant activities of the leaf aqueous extract of the plant species in mice and rats. Fresh leaves of W. somnifera were collected from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, South Africa, authenticated by a taxonomist and a voucher specimen (UWC 005) deposited in the University's Herbarium. Leaf aqueous extract was prepared using standard extraction methods. The carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema test was used to determine the anti-inflammatory effects while pentobarbitone-induced sleep and locomotor activity tests were used to evaluate the sedative effect of the plant species. Phytochemical qualitative analysis, acute toxicity and HPLC studies of the plant species were also carried out using standard methods. The phytochemical qualitative analysis carried out on the dried powdered leaves of W. somnifera showed the presence of saponins, tannins and triterpene steroids. Leaf aqueous extract of W. somnifera (100-200 mg/kg IP) significantly prolonged pentobarbitone (40 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced sleep in mice in a dose dependant manner. Diazepam (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly prolonged pentobarbitone (40 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced sleep in mice. The doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg (i.p.) of the plant species and 0.5 mg/kg (i.p.) of diazepam significantly reduced the locomotor activity of mice. Leaf aqueous extract of the plant species (50-200 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the oedema produced by carrageenan (1%) in rats over 90 min period of testing. Indomethacin (20 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced carrageenan (1%)-induced oedema in rats over 120 min period of testing. The LD 50 value obtained for the leaf aqueous extract of the plant species following inter-peritoneal injection was 1,600 mg/kg while that following oral administration was probably over 4,000 mg/kg. The HPLC finger-print of the aqueous extract showed distinct peaks at the following retention times 2. 977, 3.594, 4.154, 4.406, 4.660 and 15.267 min. The results obtained show that leaf aqueous extract of W. somnifera has both sedative and anti-inflammatory effects.