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Harungana madagascariensis Lam (Hypericaceae) and Euphorbia prostrata Ait (Euphorbiaceae) are commonly used in Cameroon as traditional medicines for the treatment of typhoid fevers. Aqueous extracts were prepared from the leaves of H. madagascariensis and the whole plant of E. prostrata and tested in vitro for antibacterial activity against Salmonella Typhi, Salmonella Paratyphi A, Salmonella Paratyphi B and Salmonella Typhimurium, using broth dilution technique. Phytochemical screening was performed using standard methods. Acute toxicity study of the various extracts was also done on mice. Results obtained showed that H. madagascariensis extract exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 390.625 to 1562.5 µg/ml. The median lethal dose (LD 50 ) of H. madagascariensis extract as shown by the acute toxicity studies were 11.6 g/kg and 13.2 g/kg body weight for female and male mice, respectively. The MIC values of E. prostrata extract varied from 1024 to 2048 µg/ml. The LD 50 values obtained for this extract were 23.2 g/kg and 26.4 g/kg body weight for female and male mice, respectively. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of phenols, tannins, saponins, anthraquinones, anthocyanins, triterpenoids, flavonoids and alkaloids in both plant extracts. These data suggest that the aqueous extracts of H. madagascariensis and E. prostrata contain antibacterial principles which may be non toxic.

BackgroundThe present study investigates the effects of Vitellaria paradoxa crude extract administration on Salmonella typhimurium infected Wistar rats.MethodsRats were infected by single dose oral administration of Salmonella typhimurium (1.5×108 CFU). Negative control groups were infected and treated orally with distilled water (vehicle), neutral control group were not infected, while the four test groups were treated up to 18 days with 55 mg/kg, 110 mg/kg, 220 mg/kg and 440 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of V. paradoxa respectively. The effects of this extract administration on serum markers (total protein, creatinine, transaminases, bilirubin and lipid profile) as well as acute toxicity test and phytochemical screening were also investigated.ResultsFollowing in vivo studies, aqueous extract of V. paradoxa allowed to clear salmonellosis in previously infected rats within twelve days of treatment. Infection has resulted in a significant increase of transaminases activity. Besides, significant decrease was observed in liver and kidney relative weight and their protein content. Nevertheless, administration of this plant extract at higher doses has resulted in the correction of some of these injuries. Results obtained from acute toxicity study showed that mice administered with the aqueous leaf extract exhibited a mild reaction to noise and pinch; excreted watery discharges and the LD50 value was 12.0 g/kg. In addition, the extract showed no toxic effect after 14 days. However, it may have a sedative effect or depressant effect on the central nervous system, may induce a decrease in plasma levels of algogenic substances, and may cause diarrhea at high doses. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenols and polyphenols, saponins, anthocyanins, steroids and anthraquinones.ConclusionsThese results support the ethnomedicinal use of V. paradoxa, and suggest that its leave can be used in the management antibacterial phytomedicine.

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Aim: Study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antisalmonellal and antioxidant properties of Tectona grandis, a medicinal plant commonly used in traditional Cameroonian medicine for the treatment of typhoid fever. Study Design: In vitro Antimicrobial and antioxidant analyses of plant extract using established protocols. Place and Duration of Study: Plant materiel collection at Loum (Moungo Division, Littoral region of Cameroon), identification at the National Herbarium of Cameroon, extraction of plant and all analyses at the Research Unit of Microbiology and Antimicrobial Substances, Department of Biochemistry, University of Dschang-Cameroon, between August 2018 and April 2019. Methodology: In vitro antisalmonellal activity of Tectona grandis extracts was evaluated by the liquid microdilution method as well as their antioxidant activity using by standard methods of H2O2 trapping, FRAP, DPPH radical trapping and OH radical trapping. Quantification test of total phenols and flavonoids and phytochemical screening of extract were also done. Results: The results showed that most of the Tectona grandis extracts had minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 64 to 1024 μg/mL. Ethanolic extract, 70% ethanol extract and aqueous decoction are the most effective compared to aqueous extracts with activities between 64 and 128 μg/mL on the bacteria tested. Antioxidant tests showed that all extracts except macerated and aqueous infused extracts exhibited high DPPH trapping activities. The antioxidant activities of the extracts are proportionally linked in most cases to their flavonoid and total phenol contents at a concentration of 200 µg/mL. Aqueous decoction showed better H2O2 trapping activity at concentrations less than or equal to 25 µg/mL. Conclusion: These results show that the ethanolic extract and decocted aqueous of Tectona grandis leaves can be used as an alternative to treat salmonellosis.

Tectona grandis (T. grandis) is a medicinal plant widely used in Cameroon to treat typhoid fever and several other diseases. Despite its heavy use for medical purposes, no study has yet been conducted to assess its potentially toxic effects. This study aimed at evaluating the acute and subchronic toxicological profile of Tectona grandis leaf extract in rats. The acute toxicity study revealed neither behavioral disturbances nor death in rats. The lethal dose (DL50) of this extract is greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. The subchronic toxicity study showed no significant change in weight gain in rats at test doses throughout the treatment period. However, there was a significant decrease in alanine transaminase activity and serum protein levels at all doses. Alkaline phosphatase activity decreased at doses of 30, 90, and 270 mg/kg and increased at the dose of 810 mg/kg body weight. Serum and urinary urea levels increased simultaneously at doses of 270 and 810 mg/kg body weight. Repeated administration of the extract also increased total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein levels in both sexes were compared to respective controls, and the ratio of high- to low-density lipoprotein was found to be greater than 1 in all animals. However, at the dose of 810 mg/kg, necrosis was observed on the kidney sections and vascular congestion on the liver sections of animals. Aqueous extract of T. grandis did not lead to any adverse effects in rats after acute and subchronic treatment at 30 and 90 mg/kg doses. This extract can, therefore, be used for the formulation of typhoid fever phytomedicine at the therapeutic dose of 30 mg/kg, but before this, chronic and mutagenic toxicity evaluations must be carried out.

Background Bacteria belonging to the Salmonella genus are major concern for health, as they are widely reported in many cases of food poisoning. The use of antibiotics remains a main stream control strategy for avian salmonellosis as well as typhoid and paratyphoid fevers in humans. Due to the growing awareness about drug resistance and toxicities, the use of antibiotics is being discouraged in many countries whilst advocating potent benign alternatives such as phyto-based medicine. The objective of this work was to isolate, characterise the bioactive compounds of Canarium schweinfurthii; and evaluate their anti-salmonellal activity. Methods The hydro-ethanolic extract of Canarium schweinfurthii was fractionated and tested for their anti-salmonellal activity. The most active fractions (i.e. chloroform and ethyl acetate partition fractions) were then explored for their phytochemical constituents. Fractionation on normal phase silica gel column chromatography and size exclusion chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 led to the isolation of four compounds (maniladiol, scopoletin, ethyl gallate and gallic acid) reported for the first time in Canarium schweinfurthii. Results Result indicated that scopoletin and gallic acid had greater activity than the crude extracts and partition fractions. Among the isolated compounds, scopoletin showed the highest inhibitory activity with a MIC of 16 μg/ml against Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis. Conclusions The overall results of this study indicates that the hydro-ethanolic extract as well as some of isolated compounds have interesting anti-salmonellal activities that could be further explored for the development of potent therapy for salmonellosis. Furthermore, the study adds credence to the folkloric applications of the plant.