Larvicidal, antimicrobial and brine shrimp activities of extracts from Cissampelos mucronata and Tephrosia villosa from coast region, Tanzania

Abstract

BackgroundThe leaves and roots of Cissampelos mucronata A. Rich (Menispermaceae) are widely used in the tropics and subtropics to manage various ailments such as gastro-intestinal complaints, menstrual problems, venereal diseases and malaria. In the Coast region, Tanzania, roots are used to treat wounds due to extraction of jigger. Leaves of Tephrosia villosa (L) Pers (Leguminosae) are reported to be used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus in India. In this study, extracts from the roots and aerial parts of C. mucronata and extracts from leaves, fruits, twigs and roots of T. villosa were evaluated for larvicidal activity, brine shrimps toxicity and antimicrobial activity.MethodsPowdered materials from C. mucronata were extracted sequentially by dichloromethane followed by ethanol while materials from T.villosa were extracted by ethanol only. The extracts obtained were evaluated for larvicidal activity using Culex quinquefasciatus Say larvae, cytotoxicity using brine shrimp larvae and antimicrobial activity using bacteria and fungi.ResultsExtracts from aerial parts of C. Mucronata exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholera, Bacillus anthracis, Streptococcus faecalis and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. They exhibited very low toxicity to brine shrimps and had no larvicidal activity. The root extracts exhibited good larvicidal activity but weak antimicrobial activity. The root dichloromethane extracts from C. mucronata was found to be more toxic with an LC50 value of 59.608 μg/mL while ethanolic extracts from root were not toxic with LC50>100 μg/mL). Ethanol extracts from fruits and roots of T. villosa were found to be very toxic with LC50 values of 9.690 μg/mL and 4.511 μg/mL, respectively, while, ethanol extracts from leaves and twigs of T. villosa were found to be non toxic (LC50>100 μg/mL).ConclusionThese results support the use of C. mucronata in traditional medicine for treatment of wounds. Extracts of C. mucronata have potential to yield active antimicrobial and larvicidal compounds. The high brine shrimp toxicity of T. villosa corroborates with literature reports that the plant is toxic to both livestock and fish. The results further suggest that T. villosa extracts have potential to yield larvicidal and possibly cytotoxic compounds. Further studies to investigate the bioactive compounds responsible for the observed biological effects are suggested.

Preliminary evidences of the direct and indirect antimicrobial activity of 12 plants used in traditional medicine in Africa

“…Cissampelos mucronata did not show any direct or indirect antibacterial activity on the strain MRSA ATCC33591. The ethanolic and dichloromethane extracts from the leaves of this plant showed a direct antimicrobial activity against another strain of Staphylococcus aureus at much higher concentrations (MIC 3125 and 6250 mg/L respectively) (Nondo et al 2011).…”

Plants in the Genus Tephrosia: Valuable Resources for Botanical Insecticides

“…Whole plants contain rotenoids, dehydrorotenone, prenylated flavonone. The ethanol extract of roots, leaves, fruit, and twigs of T. villosa showed significant activity against southern house mosquito ( Culex quinquefasciatus ) larvae [ 65 ]. A defensin (TvD1) isolated from T. villosa showed inhibitory activities to mealworm ( Tenebrio molitor ) [ 84 ].…”

Evaluation of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Cissampelos mucronata on Testicular Function Indices in Wistar Rats

“…Rich) belongs to the family Menispermaceae, it is a perennial climbing plant with annual stem that scramble over the ground or twine into the surrounding vegetation for support. C. mucronata is widely distributed all through tropical and sub-tropical Africa, America and Asia [14,15]. The common English names are velvet leaf, ivy vine and heart-leaved vine.…”

“…Different parts of C. mucronata A. Rich, are commonly used in the tropics and subtropics to treat infirmities such as malaria, venereal diseases, gastro-intestinal complaints and menstrual problems [15]. Fractions of methanolic leaf extract of C. mucronata have been documented to demonstrate significant protection against ulcer induced indomethacin in rats [16].…”