Screening of east African plants for antimicrobial activity. I.

Abstract

Screening of East African plants for antimicrobial activity was carried out. The plant materials were collected mainly on the basis of information gathered from"Bwana Mganga"(Swahili) meaning"medicine man"on"dawa ya miti"(Swahili) meaning"medicinal plants". Of 79 extracts from 72 species of plants belonging to 35 families, we found that 40 extracts gave initial positive results indicative of antimicrobial activity against one or more microorganisms. Interestingly, none of the extracts showed activity against Escherichia coli, a gram-negative bacterium.