An ethnobotanical survey of Bauchi State herbal plants and their antimicrobial activity

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.12.025

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Volume 99, Issue 1, 13 May 2005, Pages 1-4

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.12.025 Get rights and content

Abstract

A survey of medicinal plants used locally in the treatment of various diseases was carried out in Bauchi State—Nigeria. A total of 84 medicinal plants were listed. Preliminary antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extracts of the plants was investigated. The results indicated that out of 84 plants, 75 exhibited antimicrobial activity against one or more of the test organisms at a concentration of 200 mg/ml. The extracts were found to show potentially interesting activity against Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Introduction

The use of plants and plant preparations have been in existent since prehistory. There are several reports on the use of plants in traditional healing (Manandhar, 1985, Manandhar, 1987, Manandhar, 1994, Audu, 1993, Audu, 1995, Shretha and Joshi, 1993, Ahmad et al., 1998). However, few have been screened for biological activity. Audu (1993) reported the effective and palliative action of medicinal herbs used in Bauchi of which Anogeissus leicarpus was observed to be effective in treating 33 patients with abdominal pain.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that about 80% of the world's population depend mainly on traditional medicine and the traditional treatment involve mainly the use of plant extracts (WHO, 1993). This practice is commonly found in rural areas where synthetic drugs are not available or, where available, are too expensive to purchase. According to Audu (1995), 85% of the populations of Bauchi State—Nigeria are rural dwellers; and they use herbal treatment for their medication. Maclean (1971) and Behrhost (1975) reported that in many African countries, the people consulted the traditional medical practitioners as the first choice.

The use of herbal drugs in treatment of diseases is found among all sections of people in Bauchi State. The herbs are found in open spaces, shops and in the market sold by traditional practitioners. There are others also that move about with the herbs in their vehicles and advertise through loud speakers. In spite of the wide acceptance of the use of plants by the people in Bauchi for treatment, and the wide availability of medicinal plants, there is no record of the survey of plants used in traditional medicine in Bauchi State.

This paper reports results of a survey that was done based on folk uses by traditional practitioners in Bauchi State and their antimicrobial activity.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Plant materials were freshly collected in various parts of Bauchi State. The plants were obtained by using their vernacular names and their botanical names were verified using a guide by Gbile, 1980, Gbile, 1984 and Burkhill (1985).

Preparation of plant extracts

The plant materials were dried under shade and ground into fine powder. Fifty grams of powdered plant material were soaked in 250 ml of water for four days. At the end of the extraction, each extract was filtered on filter paper. The filtrates obtained were evaporated to dryness.

Microorganisms used

The test organisms were Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, which were obtained from the specialist Hospital Bauchi.

Determination of antimicrobial activity

The agar well diffusion method was used. The agar was inoculated with the organisms and allowed to solidify. A total of 8 mm diameter wells were punched into the agar and filled with the extracts (200 mg/ml), distilled water and a standard antibiotic (gentimicin at concentration of 100 mg/ml) was used as a positive control. The plates were incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. The antibacterial activity was calculated by measuring the inhibition—zone diameter observed.

Results

Table 1 indicates a total of 84 medicinal plants that were collected from Bauchi State. The botanical, and vernacular names of the plant and the plant parts used together with their traditional therapeutic uses are presented. Aqueous extract from each of the plants were obtained and tested against Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.

Table 1 also indicates the results of the antimicrobial activities of the aqueous extract of each plant with

Discussion

There are several reasons that people use plants for medication. This includes improvement of health after herbal treatment, low cost of the drugs, non availability of synthetic drugs particularly in the rural areas of Bauchi State, or where available were either fake or expired drugs and in some cases the people are more accustomed to and comfortable with traditional healing (Audu, 1995). From Table 1, there are plants that are used to treat more than one ailment, for example, Annona

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Screening of some Indian medicinal plants for their antimicrobial properties
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J.A. Audu
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An ethnobotanical survey of Bauchi State herbal plants and their antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Preparation of plant extracts

Microorganisms used

Determination of antimicrobial activity

Results

Discussion

Journal of Ethnopharmocology

Studies on the effectiveness of medicinal herbs used as anthelmintics by traditional medical practitioners in South of Bauchi State II

Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany

Observation on the efficacy and palliative action of medicinal herbs used by traditional herbal practitioners in Bauchi State I

Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany

The Chimaltenongo development project in Guatemala

Health by People

The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, second ed., vol. I

Vernacular names of Nigerian plants (Hausa)