Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Records have shown that Combretum adenogonium Steud. Ex A. Rich
(Combretaceae) is used in traditional medicine systems of several tribes in
Tanzania. This study focused on the investigation of antibacterial activity,
anti-HIV-1 protease activity, toxicity properties and classes of phytochemicals
in extracts from C. adenogonium Steud. Ex A. Rich (Combretaceae) to evaluate
potential of these extracts for development as herbal remedies.
METHODS: Dried plant material were ground to fine powder and extracted using 80%
aqueous ethanol to afford root, leaf and stem bark extracts. The extracts were
assayed for anti-HIV-1 protease activities, antibacterial activities using
microdilution methods and cytotoxicity using brine shrimps lethality assay.
Screening for major phytochemical classes was carried out using standard chemical
tests.
RESULTS: All extracts exhibited antibacterial activity to at least one of the
test bacteria with MIC-values ranging from 0.31-5.0 mg/ml. Two extracts, namely,
root and stem bark exhibited anti-HIV-1 PR activity with IC50 values of 24.7 and
26.5 μg/ml, respectively. Stem bark and leaf extracts showed mild toxicity with
LC50 values of 65.768 μg/ml and 76.965 μg/ml, respectively, whereas roots were
relatively non-toxic (LC50 = 110.042 μg/ml). Phytochemical screening of the
extracts indicated presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins,
glycosides and saponins.
CONCLUSION: These results provide promising baseline information for the
potential development of C. adenogonium extracts in treatment of bacterial and
HIV/AIDS-related opportunistic infections.
