Chemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants from Ghana: Cassia sieberiana, Haematostaphis barteri, Mitragyna inermis and Pseudocedrela kotschyi

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of the sequential n-hexane, acetone and 50% aqueous methanol extracts of leaves, stem bark and roots of four species of medicinal plants, Cassia sieberiana DC. (Leguminosae), Haematostaphis barteri Hook. f. (Anacardiaceae), Mitragyna inermis (Willd.) O. Kuntze (Rubiaceae) and Pseudocedrela kotschyi (Schweinf.) Harms (Meliaceae), from Ghana were tested against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas syringae and Cladosporium herbarum using TLC direct-autobiographic methods. Extracts from leaves, stem bark and roots of the four species gave a positive result against at least one test organism. Twelve of the 36 extracts were active against B. subtilis, four extracts were active against P. syringae and six were active against C. herbarum. Preliminary chemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, stilbenes and alkaloids. This is the first report of a stilbene from the Anacardiaceae.

Ethnopharmacological survey of plants used for the treatment of female infertility in Baham, Cameroon

“…In many African communities, the knowledge on medicinal plant usage is often transmitted from the older generation to the younger via word-of-mouth (orally) and most of this knowledge has not been documented (Sofowora, 1993;Asase et al, 2008Asase et al, , 2010. This situation is worsened by the general tendency of deforestation in some of these communities which would irremediably lead to the disappearance of valuable and rare medicinal plants.…”

Ethnopharmacological use of herbal remedies for the treatment of malaria in the Dangme West District of Ghana

“…This knowledge is often transmitted from one generation to another usually via word-of-mouth, and as such the traditional uses of many species of plants have not been documented (Asase et al, 2008). There is danger of losing this precious knowledge due to the rapid degradation of natural habitats and ecosystems leading to loss of plant and cultural diversity.…”

Pharmacognostic evaluation of the leaves and roots of Cassia sieberiana DC.

“…Pharmacological studies have shown that various extracts have antimicrobial and antifungal activities (Asase et al, 2008); analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antimalarial, myorelaxant, antispasmodic, and antisickling activities (Duwiejua et al, 2008;Sy et al, 2009;Fatokun et al, 2015).…”