Antimicrobial activities and phytochemical analysis of Harrisonia abyssinica (Oliv) and Vepris simplicifolia (Verd) extracts used as traditional medicine in Tanzania

The present study aimed to determine in vitro antimicrobial activities and phytochemical analysis of Harrisonia abyssinica and Vepris simplifolia which are commonly used as traditional medicine in Tanzania. Sensitivity of bacterial and fungal species against plants extracts were determined using serial microdilution method. In this method, the lowest inhibitory concentration which prevented microbial growth considered as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The study also evaluated phytochemical compounds present in the leaf, stem and root barks of H. abyssinica. It was revealed that eight extracts from H. abyssinica inhibited growth of three bacteria namely Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium and Streptococcus uberis at MIC value less than 1 mg/mL. It was further revealed that, three extracts from V. simplifolia exhibited high antibacterial and antifungal activity. The preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed presence of various phytochemicals namely alkaloids, terpenoid, flavonoid, tannin and saponin. It was concluded that presence of large number of phytochemicals in the plant extracts may be associated with pharmacological properties of H. abyssinica and V. simplifolia and therefore this study provide alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents.