Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of <em>vangueria volkensi</em>i bark, fruit, leaf, and stem extracts

Abstract

Introduction: Vangueria volkensii used in Sub-Saharan African countries to treat venereal diseases has no published data on its antimicrobial activities. Materials and Methods: Vangueria volkensii bark, fruits, leaves, and stems were sequentially extracted via Soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether (PE), acetone (ACE), and ethanol (ETOH). Using disc diffusion assay, antimicrobial activities were evaluated against six bacteria (Gram-negative [Escherichia coli B strain, Salmonella enterica Subsp. enteritidis, Shigella flexneri] and gram-positive [Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus]) using 50 mg/ml extract concentrations. Results: Salmonella enterica Subsp. enteritidis, S. flexneri, E. faecalis and methicillin-resistant S. aureus were sensitive to all extracts prepared. E. coli B strain was resistant to bark ETOH and stem ACE extracts. Fruit extracts prepared from ACE had the most inhibitory activity for all microorganisms, except E. faecalis. Conclusions: This study shows that V. volkensii contains antimicrobial properties as all extracts exhibited broad spectrum activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria