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Abstract

The common usage of Galium spp. in the Ethiopian traditional medicine, as described in few documentations, are generally related to diseases associated with the nervous system, the immune system, infections and inflammation. Preliminary phytochemical and antimicrobial screening on extracts of the aerial parts of Galium spurium (subspecies africanum) was done in order to partly rationalize some of the claimed traditional uses of the plant. Results of the preliminary antimicrobial screening on extracts of G. spurium showed only weak antibacterial activity. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids and phenolics compounds. As phenolics and flavonoids are known to display multiple health benefits, the claimed traditional uses of the plant could be justified more through the possible pharmacological effects of these components than its weak antibacterial activities.