Antiamoebic and phytochemical screening of some Congolese medicinal plants.
Tona L., Kambu K., Ngimbi N., Cimanga K., Vlietinck A. J.
Author Affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 212, Kinshasa XI, Congo.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 61 : 57-65
Abstract : Results from the in vitro antiamoebic activity (against Entamoeba histolytica) of some Congolese plant extracts used as antidiarrhoeals in traditional medicine indicated that of 45 plant extracts tested, 35 (77.78%) exhibited an antiamoebic activity and 10 (22.22%) were inactive. The highest activity (MIC 100 µg/ml) was obtained with extracts from root bark of Paropsia brazzeana [P. brazzaeana], Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, Alchornea cordifolia, Heinsia pulchella, Maprounea africana, Rauwolfia obscura [Rauvolfia obscura] and Voacanga africana, leaves and stem bark of Psidium guajava, stem bark of Dialum englerianum [Dialium englerianum], Harungana madagascariensis and Mangifera indica, mature seeds of Carica papaya, and leaves of Morinda morindoides and Tithonia diversifolia. Metronidazole used as reference product showed a more pronounced activity than that of all plant extracts tested.