EVALUATION OF MALIAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINES - SCREENING FOR ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

The antimicrobial properties of a decoction and methanol extract of 13 plant species used in the traditional medicine of Mall, for fever and respiratory tract diseases, have been tested for in vitro antibacteri al activity against clinically isolated bacterial strains: Haemophilus influenzae (6 strains); Staphylococcus aureus (5 strains); Streptococ cus pneumoniae (3 strains); Streptococcus pyogenes (8 strains) and Mor axella catarrhalis (5 strains) responsible for respiratory infections. The results obtained showed that the extracts from Anogeissus leiocar pus, Guiera senegalensis (Combretaceae) and Diospyros mespiliformis (E benaceae), have a significant activity against all strains of bacteria tested. Crossopteryx febrifuga and Pteolopsis suberosa showed moderat e activity only against S. aureus. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.