Pharm. Méd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Vol. 13, pp.161-173
ln vitro antimicrobial activity of sorne medicinal plants from Cameroon.
1. Gangoué-Piéboji':", O.E. Pegnyernb', 0 Niyitegeka. A. Nsangou', N. EZE2• C. Minvem 2.
1. Ngo Mbing':', P. Ngassam, R. Ghogomu Tih', B.L. Sodengam', B. Bodo".
'Centre de Recherches en Plantes médicinales et Medecine Traditionnelle, IMPM, B.P 8404,
Yaoundé, Cameroun.
.Laboratoire de Biologie Générale. Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé 1. B P. 812
Yaoundé, Cameroun.
'Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé 1, B.P. 812
Yaoundé, Cameroun
"Laboratoire de Chimie et Biochimie des Substances Naturelles, USM0502 MNHN-
UMR5J54 CNRS. 63 Rue Buffon 75005 Paris, France
Corresponding address : jgangoueéàyahoo.fr
Abstra ct
The antimicrobial properties of crude methanolic extracts derived from ten Cameroonian
medicinal plants were carried out. The screening of the antimicrobial activity of extracts was
conducted by a dise diffusion test against Gram-positive, -negative bacteria and yeast. The
active extracts (inhibition diameter 2:9 mm) were assayed for the minimum inhibitory
concentration. Ali extracts were submitted to phytochemical screening by chemical tests. The
results obtained indicated that the activity was more pronounced against Gram-positive
bacteria and yeast than Gram-negative bacteria, which no activity was observed. The most
active antirnicrobial plant was Ptagiostyles Africana (Euphorbiaceae).
Keywords: antimicrobial, medicinal plants, Cameroon, bacteria, Yeast.
161

---

Pharm. Méd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Vol. 10, pp.
l. Indroduction
Medicinal plants have long been the subject of human curiosity and need. In many parts of
Carneroon, there is a rich tradition in the use of herbai medicine for the treatment of various
iûfectious diseases, inflammations, injuries and other diseases (Adjanohoun et al., 1996).
Plant derived products are present in 14 of the 15 therapeutic categories ofpharmaceutical
preparations that are currently recommended by medicinal practionners and, they form an
important part of the health-care system in the werstern world (Phillipson and Anderson,
1989). Among the more than 250 000 species of higher plants, only about 5-10% are
chemically investigated (Nahrstedt, 1996). Because of the side effects and the resistance that
pathogenic microorganisms build against antibiotics, much recent attention has been paid to
extracts and biologically active compounds isolated from plant species used in herbaI
medicine (Kokoska et al., 2002; Nostro et al., 2000). Plant based antimicrobials represent a
vast untapped source for medicines and, further exploration ofplant antirnicrobials needs to
occur. Antimicrobials of plant origin have enormous therapeutic potential. They are effective
in the treatment of infectious diseases while simultaneously mitigating many of the side
effects that are often associated with synthetic antirnicrobials (lwu et al., 1999; Cowan, 1999).
The present study was conducted to investigate antimicrobial properties of methanol extracts
of sorne medicinal plants used in folk medicine in Carneroon.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Plant material
The plants were collected from various places in Carneroon (table 1) during a trimester (from
September to November 2003)
Samples were identified by reference to the National
Herbarium of Cameroon Voucher specimens have been deposited at National Herbarium of
Cameroon.
162

---

Pharm. Méd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Vol. 13, pp.161-173
J.J. l'reparation ofextracts
The plant rnaterial (leaves, seeds and stem) were air dried and powdered. An amount of 15tO
60 g of the powder were extracted with 500 ml of Methanol. The extraction was done at room
temperature under constant shaking for 24 hours The different extracts obtained were filtered
and concentrated under reduced pressure ta dryness.
2.3. Microorganisms
The methanol extracts were individually tested against a panel of microorganisms, including
Gram-positive bacteria [EnlerococclIs hirae ATCC 9790, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC
25923, 4 clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus (1. 2, 3, 4), Staphylococcus epidermtdisï.
Gram-negative baci1Ji.[J-,:~cherichia coli ATCC 25922, le'. coli 35218, 10 c1inical strains of lé'.
coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATee 27823. 3 clinical strains of P. aeruginosa, 4 Klebsiella
pneumontact and yeast species (7 clinical strains of Candidaalbicansï.
2.-1. Antimicrobial assqr
The determination of antimicrobial activities of extracts were done by dise diffusion test
according ta the methods of the National Cornmittee for Clinical Laboratory Standards
(NeCLS) (1999) The minimum inhibitory concentrations of strains which exhibit inhibition
diameter more than 8 mm were deterrnined by the agar dilution rnethod (NCCLS, 1999). The
MICs of penicillin and econazole were also deterrnined in para/lel experiments in arder ta
control the sensitivity of the test microorganisms Ali tests were performed in triplicate.
163

---

Pharm. Méd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Vol. 13, pp.161-173
2.-/.1. Dise diffusion mcthod
The dried plant extract were dissolved in DMSO (IOt?to)fTween 20 (0.5%) (v/v) to a final
concentration of 100mg/ml and sterilized by filtration using 0.22 urn Millipore filters
Antimicrobial test were then carried out by dise diffusion method (NCCLS, 1999) using 100
III of saline suspension containing lOs CFU/ml of bacteria. 10" CFU/ml of veast on Mueller
Hinton agar (MH) and Sabouraud dextrose agar medium respectively. The dises (6 mm in
diameter) were impregnated with 15 III of extracts and placed on the inoculated agar plate.
Negative controls were prepared using the same solvents employed to dissolve the plants
extracts. The inoculated plates were incubated at 37 "C for 24 h for bacteria strains and 48 h
for yeast. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by measuring the zone of inhibition against the
test organisms.
2.-1. 2. MI(' agar dihuion assay
MIe values of the Gram-positive and yeast isolates were studied based on the agar dilution
method according to NCCLS (1999). The extract was added aseptically to sterile melted MH
agar medium at the appropriate volume to produce the concentrations range of 2-1024 ug/ml.
The resulting MH agar solutions were immediately poured into Petri plates after vortexing.
The plates were spot inoculated with 2111 of each Gram positive bacteria and yeast isolates.
Penicillin G was used as a reference antibiotic drug and econazole as a reference antifungal
drug. The inoculated plates were incubated at 37 "C for bacteria and yeast for 24 h and 48 h
respectively. At the end of incubation period, the plates were evaluated for the presence or
absence for growth MIC values were determined as the lowest concentration of the extract
where absence of growth was recorded.
164

---

Pharm. Méd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Va!. 13, pp.161-173.
2.5. Phtochemical screening
Tests for alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, sterols and triterpenes were carried out according
to the methods of Harborne (J 973)
3. Results
3.1 Dise d[Uusioll test
The results of dise diffusion testing of plant extracts are listed in table 2.
The DMSO/Tween 20 10%/0.1% (v/v) negative control showed no inhibiting effects.
Ali the plant extraets were not active against Gram-negative baciJli iEscherichia coli,
Klebsiella pnenmoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa'ï.
The extracts from Mammea africana, Ouratea sulcata and Plagiostylse africana showed a
good activity against Staphylococcus spp. whereas the extract from Al africana was also
active against Entercoccus hirae.
Yeasts were found to be sensitive to extracts from Crepis cameroonica, Crotalaria retnsa,
I.ophira lanceolata, Ochna cfzelii. Ourateaflava and Plagiostyles oficana. The extract from P.
africana showed a high activity (inhibition diameters ranged from 10 to 20 mm) against these
microbes.
3.2 Minimum inhibitory concentration
The MIC' values of plant extracts are given in table 3.
The DMSO/Tween 20 negative control showed no toxic effect at lO%/O.I~/o (VIV)
The positive controls showed Mie value ranged from <025 to 4 ug/ml (Penicillin G) against
Gram-positive bacteria and from 32- >1024 ug/rnl (econazole) against yeasts
165

---

Pharm. Méd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Vol.13, pp. 161-173
The MIC values of plant extracts for Gram-positive bacteria were > 1024 11g/1l11 except P.
africaua which is the most active extract with MIC ranged from 64-1024 ug/rnl against these
bacteria.
Against yeasts, the MIC values of ail plant extracts ranged from 512-> ]024 ug/rnl.
3.3 Phytochemical screeuing
The resu1ts of the phytochemical screening of ail plant extracts are listed in Table 3. The
chemical tests showed the presence of flavonoids in ail the extracts, whereas terpenes,
alkaloids, coumarins and steroids were detected in eight, three, three and one of ten plant
extracts, respectively.
4. Discussion and conchssions
The antimicrobial activities of ten methanol extracts from ten medicinal plants against 38
microorganisrns examined in the present study and their potency were quantitatively assessed
by the presence or absence of inhibition zone diameters (Table 2), and MIC values (Table 3).
The resu1ts showed that the plant extracts have inhibition efTect on the growth of Gram-
positive bacteria and yeasts, and no activity against Gram-negative bacteria
The
phytochemistry screening revealed the presence of components (alkaloids, cournarins,
flavonoids, and terpenes) with antimicrobial activity in ail extracts (Cowan, 2000). The
extract of l'. ufricaua was the most active against Staphylococcus spp. and yeast whereas the
extracts of 0 sulcata and M. Africaua was active against Staphylococcus spp. and all Gram-
positive bacteria tested respectively.
Our data showed that there was no uniform response within or between the bacterial strains of
the sarue species and ('. albicans isolates in terms of susceptibility to antimicrobial
166

---

Pharm. Méd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Vo1.13,pp.161-173
cornpounds in the methanol extract of medicinal plants studied. These kinds of differences in
susceptibility arnong the rnicroorganisms against antimicrobial substances in plants extracts
may be explained by the differences in cell wall composition For the bacteria, Gram-negative
bacteria have an outer phospholipidic membrane arraying the structural lipopolysaccharide
cornponents This makes the cell wall impermeable to lipophilic solutes. while porins
constitute a selective barrier to the hydrophilic solutes with an exclusion limit of about 600 Da
(Nikaido and Vaara, 1985). The Gram-positive bacteria should be more susceptible, having
only outer peptidoglycan layer which is not an effective permeability barrier (Scherrer and
Gerhardt, 1971). The antifungal compounds of the plants assayed are not weil known;
however, the presence of tlavonoidsand terpenes and certain degree of lipophicity might
determine toxicity by the interactions with the membrane constituents and their arrangement
(Tomas-Barberan et al., 1990)
The results were encouraging and may suggest that methanol extract of some medicinal plants
possess compounds with antibacterial and anticandidal properties which can be used as
antimicrobial agents in new drugs for therapy ofinfectious diseases.
Acknowledgements
This research was financially supported by the International Foundation for Sciences (IFS).
Stockholn, Sweden, and the Organisation for the prohibition ofchemical Weapons, the Hague,
The Netherlands, through a Grant to Dr D.E. Pegnyemb N°F/330- 1. We would like to thank
Dr M. Satabie, M.
Nana and M
Koufani
(National Herbarium)
M N. Tsabang
(CRPMT/lMPM), Dr Zapfack (department of Botanic UYl) for collection and Identification
of plants materials We thank also Drs A. Ngandjio (Centre Pasteur du Cameroun) and H.
Gonsu (Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire) for generously contributing to the strain collection.
167

---

Pharm. Méd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Vol. 13, pp.161-173
References
Phillipson, lD., Anderson, L.A, 1989. Ethnopharmacology and western medicine. Journal of
Ethnopharmacology 25, 61- 72.
Adjanohoun, JE, Aboubakar.N; Dramane, K., Ebot, ME, Ekpere. lA, Enow-Orock,E.G.,
Focho, O., Gbile, Z.O., Kamanyi. l v.Kamsu Korn, J., Keita, A, Mbenkum.L, Mbi,
C.N., Mbiele, AL, Mbome, 1.L., Mubiru, NK, Nancy. W.L, Nkongmeneck.B;
Satabie, B., Sofowora.A; Tamze, V., and Wirmum, C.K, 1996. Contribution to
ethnobotanical and floristic studies in Cameroon. Scientific Technical and Research
Commission, Organization of African Unity, p 641.
Nahrstedt, A., 1996. Ist die suche nach ptlanzeninhasltsstofTen aIs leitstrukturen fur pharmaka
noch aktuel? In: Medizinische Forschung. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
York, 9, pp. 15-41.
Kokoska, L Polesny, Z.. Rada. V. Nepovim, A, Vanek, T., 2002. Screening of sorne
Siberian medicinal plants for antimicrobial activity. Journal of Ethnophamacology 82,
51-53.
Nostro, A, Germano. M.P., D'Angelo. V.. Marino. A. Cannatelli, MA, 2000. Extraction
methods and bioautography for evaluation of medicinal plant activity. Letters In Applied
Microbiology 30,379-384.
Iwu, M.W., Duncan, AR., Okunji, C.O, 1999. New antimicrobials of plant origin. In: Janick,
J. (ed.), Perspectives on New Crops and New uses. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA, pp.
457-462.
Cowan, M.M., 1999. Plant products as antimicrobial agents. Clinical Microbiology Reviews
12, 564-582.
168

---

Pharm. Méd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Vol. 13, pp.161-173.
National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, 1999. Performance Standards for
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing; Ninth Informational Supplement. M 100-S9. Vol.
19, No. 1. Villanova, Pa: National Commitee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.
Harborne, J.B., 1973. Methods of plants anaJysis. Jn: Phytochemical Methods. Chapman and
Hall, London, pp 1-32.
Nikaido, H., Vaara, M, 1985 Molecular basis ofbacteria outer membrane permeability.
Microbiological Reviews 1, 1-32
Scherrer, R., Gerhardt, P, 1971. Molecular sieving by the Bacillus megaterium cell wall and
protoplasr. Journal ofBacteriology 107,718-735.
Tomas-Barberan, F., Iniesta-Sanmartin, E., Tomas-Lorente, F., Rumbero, A., 1990.
Antimicrobial phenolic compounds from three Spanish Helichrysum species.
Phytochemistry 29, 1093-1095.
169

---

Table] : List of medicinal plants used
Site of
Part
Farnily name
Botanic name
Voucher nurnber
Disease
col1ection
used
Crepis cameroonica Bab. c.
Obili
Nose and ocular infections,
Asteraceae
22072/SRF/CAM
leaf
ex Hutch. et Dalz
(Yaoundé)
diarrhoea
"i:l
~
Fabaceae
Crotalaria retusa Linn
23781/SRF/CAM
Eczema
~
~
Lophira tanceotata Van Tiegh
Balamba
Toothache, dermatosis, wound,
(Ichnaceae
35J2/SRFKlCAM
Leaf
~
ex Keay
(Bafia)
conjunctivitis
~
Scabies, constipation, abortion,
~
~
( 'lusiaceae
Mammea A/ricana Sabin
17276/SRF/CAM
Stern
~
syphilis, gonorrhoea,
~:'f
.....
Toothache, respiratory track
-...l
l'-.,)
0
(Ichnaceae
Oc}1I1a afzelii R Br. Ex ûliv
8493, H.N.C. Yde
Nkolafarnba
Stem
<:::)
infection
<:::)
~
Ochnaceae
Ouratea e/ol1Kale Oliv F. T. A.
56132, HN.C., Yde
Mont Kala
Leal'
Gastritis, rheumatism
~
:-
........
Ourateaflava Schumach et
Mont
,v.,
Ochuaceae
27056, H.N.C., Yde
Leaf
Gastritis, rheumatism
Thonning ex StapF
Elonden
~........
Ouratea su/cala Van Tiegh ex
0.,
........
Ochnaceae
lO133/SRF/CAM
Kribi
Leaf
Gastritis, rheumatism
1
........
Keay
'-.1
v.,
Mont
Euphorbiacea
P/agios(v/es a/ricana Prain
5723/SRF/CAM
Leaf
Ocular infection, chest complaint
Cameroun
Apocyuaceae
Voacanga Africana StapF
. 9227/SRF/CAM
Obala
Seed
Orchitis, carious toot, gonorrhoea

---

Pharm. Méd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Vol. 13, pp.161-173.
Table 2: Dise diffusion tests
Plant species •
Organism
Ce
Cr
LI
Ma
Da
De
Of
Os
Pa
Va
Slaphy/ococcusaureus 1
-li
10
13
9
S. aureus 2
s
13
12
12
7
S. aureus 3
10
10
12
S. aureus 4
9
10
9
13
9
Il
12
S. epidermidis
la
la
8
12
9
12
13
S. aureus ATee 25923
9
11
1J
12
/o),tef'(}COCCUS hirae
NT
12
11
Candida albicans 1
9
10
9
9
8
10
10
NT
12
7
(: atbicans2
8
10
8
Il
13
NT
/0
10
C. a/bicans 3
8
9
10
8
8
NT
14
9
C. albicans 4
10
10
8
10
8
10
NT
14
C. albicans 5
7
9
9
8
NT
16
C. albicans 6
la
10
JO
Il
10
11
NT
15
C. albicans 7
JO
8
9
8
7
8
NT
16
a Cr: Crepis cameroomca; Cr: Crotalaria retusa; LI: l.ophtra kmceolata; Ma: Mammea
afrtcana; Da: Ochna ofzelii: De: Ouratea ekmgata; Of: Ourateaflava : Os: Ouratea sulcata:
Pa: Plagiostyies africona; Va: J. OtlL'tll1ga cfricona
h No inhibition zone
171

---

Pharm. Méd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Vo1.13,pp.161-173
Table 3: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs)
Plant species '
Antimicrobia1t>
Organism
Cc
Cr
LI
Ma
Oa
Oe
Of
Os
Pa
Va
PG
Eco
,"(alIhyl(IL"(XXIIS
>IOZ-l
>lnZ-l
512
2
NT
(//1/'11./1.1' 1
S. auteux 2
«i.z
>1024
>[02-l
5/1
NT
5
S. aureus J
>ION
Ill!
-l
NT
S aureus A
>IOH
>1Il2-l
>1024
>1024
>ln14
6-l
0.25
NT
S. aureus 5
> \\OH
> 1112-l
>IllH
>IOH
> \\\\l2-l
>102-l
<>-l
n.Z5
NT
S. auretts
>lo2-l
>102-l
>1Il2-l
>\\oZ-l
>IOH
>lilZ-l
>IOH
2
NT
ATCC 25923
EnteroctIL'CIIS
>lOH
>102-l
>\\oZ-l
>IOZ-l
>\\O2-l
>IOH
NT
htrae
( 'andida
>IOZ-l
>IOZ-l
>!O24
>1024
>1014
> IOZ4
> 1112-l
>IOZ4
>IOZ-l
NP
>IOH
albicaus 1
( '. albicans 2
>IOH
NT
256
('. albicans 3
>I02~
>1l1Z-l
.> (lIZ-l
>\\OH
IllZ-l
NT
Z56
(: albicans 4
>wn
> 11>14
NT
C. albicans 5
>IOZ4
>/llH
>IOZ4
>/llH
NT
>102-l
C. albicaus 6
>\\02-l
>IOZ-l
>(lIZ-l
>\\OZ.t
>IOZ-l
>lOH
>IOZ-l
NT
>\\oZ-l
(: albicans 7
>IOH
>1014
> 1024
>1024
IfIZ4
NT
>f02-l
, Cr: Crepis cameroonica: Cr: Crotataria retusa; LI: l ophira ianceolata: Ma: Mammea
africana; Oa, Oc/ma ofzelii: Oe: Ouratea elongate: Of.' Ourateaflava ; Os: Uuratea snlcata;
Pa: l'lagi(}.\\·~yle.\\· africana; Va: Vouacanga Africana
h Eco: Econazole; PG: Penicillin G
C Minimum inhibitory concentration not determined because inhibition zone diameters by dise
diffusion test were < 8 mm
* NT: not tested
172

---

Pharm. M~éd. Trad. Afr. 2004, Vol.i3, pp.i6i-i73
Table 4: Phytochemical screening
---~-~-~
Component
Plant species
Alkaloids
Coumarins
Flavonoids
Steroids
Terpenes
Crepis cameroonica
+
+
+
( 'rota/aria retusa
+
+
+
l.ophira lanccolata
+
+
Matnmea cfricana
+
+
Oc/ma afzelti
+
+
+
Onratea elongata
+
+
()"ra1ea flava
+
+
Ouratea sulcata
+
+
Plagiostyles africana
+
+
+
1'oacanga africana
T
+
+
-~--------
173

---