Extracts from the leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum and Kalanchoe
crenata were screened for their antimicrobial activities. Solvents
used included water, methanol, and local solvents such as palmwine,
local gin (Seaman's Schnapps 40% alcoholic drink,) and "omi ekan-ogi"
(Sour water from 3 days fermented milled maize). Leaves were dried and
powdered before being soaked in solvents for 3 days. Another
traditional method of extraction by squeezing raw juice from the leaves
was also employed. All extracts were lyophilized. These extracts were
tested against some Gram-negative organisms ( Escherichia coli	 ATCC
25922, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Klebsiella
pneumoniae , Shigella flexneri , Salmonella paratyphi , Citrobacter
spp); Gram-positive organisms Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25213,
Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis , Bacillus subtilis )
and a fungus ( Candida albicans ). Agar well diffusion and broth
dilution methods were used to determine the minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at
concentrations of 512mg/ml to 4mg/ml. All the organisms except Candida
albicans were susceptible to the extracts obtained from the traditional
method. The squeezed-leaf juice of Kalanchoe crenata was the most
active one with MIC of 8 mg/ml against Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis, 32 mg/ml against Shigella
flexneri, 64 mg/ml against Escherichia coli and 128 mg/ml against the
control strain Staphylococcus aureus while its MBC is 256 mg/ml against
these organisms except Bacillus subtilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The
Gram-positive organisms were more sensitive to the methanol and local
gin-extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum. Extracts from other solvents
showed moderate to weak activity.

/pdf/in-vitro-antimicrobial-activity-of-crude-extracts-from-2nk3s03gpy.pdf

In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity Of Crude Extracts From PlantsBryophyllum Pinnatum And Kalanchoe Crenata

Antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of flavonoids compounds isolated from Pseudarthria hookeri Wight & Arn. (Fabaceae)

Medicinal plants are vital sources of easily accessible remedy used in the countryside healthcare system. This study aimed to find and make record of plants that are used for medicinal therapy by three communities living in Cherangani Hills. So far no single study has documented medicinal plants as a whole in the area. Ethnobotanical data were obtained through interviewing informants using semi-structured questionnaires and extracting information from journals and books. Descriptive statistical analysis was applied to describe the data. Overall 296 plant species from 80 families and 191 genera were identified. Asteraceae family was the most dominant, representing 10.7% of the total plant species recorded. Roots (35.9%) represented the most commonly used parts of the plant. The commonly used method of preparation was decoction (54.9%). The reported diseases were classified into 14 diverse ailment groups out of the 81 health conditions on their underlying user reports. Rural communities in Cherangani Hills are rich sources of plants with medicinal properties. Therapeutic uses of the compiled plants provide basic information that can aid scientists to conduct additional research dedicated to conservation of species and pharmacological studies of species with the greatest significance.

https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/3/331/pdf

Medicinal Plants and Their Traditional Uses in Local Communities around Cherangani Hills, Western Kenya

Most of the plants used by herbalists amongst the various Kenyan communities have not been documented despite their widespread use. The purpose of this research was to document the medicinal plants used by the herbalists from the Maasai, a community that still relies on herbal medicine to a large extent for the provision of medical services. Semistructured interviews, direct observations, group discussions, and in-depth interviews were used to collect information from the traditional healers. A total of 47 plant species belonging to 31 families were identified. They were used in the treatment of 33 medical and 4 veterinary conditions.

/pdf/ethnomedical-survey-of-the-plants-used-by-traditional-3l3hs5yah6.pdf

Ethnomedical Survey of the Plants Used by Traditional Healers in Narok County, Kenya.

Traditional plant knowledge and uses of medicinal wild plants were investigated among the Marakwet community in Kenya. Data were collected through interviews with seven traditional healers and 157 questionnaires for local community members. Traditional names of the plants by traditional healers and local community members were prepared as a checklist. Loss of traditional medicinal names of plants was ascertained with up to 60% overlapping in their nomenclature. The traditional medicinal plants treated 41 diseases within the region, of which local community members understood common ones for treating stomachache (94.8%), diarrhea (70.7%), chest problems (65.5%), and typhoid (63.8%). It was also clear that there was low knowledge index of medicinal plants by the local community members (23.6%) based on knowledge of traditional healers. Clearly, medicinal plants for treatment of malaria, diabetes, tetanus, and pneumonia were recognized by over 40% of the local community members, while plants treating arteriosclerosis, meningitis, arthritis, trachoma, smallpox, rheumatic fever, and gout were known by less than 10% of the respondents. Among plants, the use of roots for treatment was known by over 67% of the local community members compared to fruits, bark, bulb, and flowers (<10%). This low traditional medicinal knowledge in a community relies on the traditional medicinal plants, calling for an urgent need to document the information and perpetuate this knowledge from one generation to another. This can be achieved by collecting the information and developing a database of medicinal plants for future research and potential development of new drugs.

/pdf/an-ethnobotanical-study-of-traditional-knowledge-and-uses-of-1a5u55whdp.pdf

An Ethnobotanical Study of Traditional Knowledge and Uses of Medicinal Wild Plants among the Marakwet Community in Kenya

Background: An inventory of the medicinal plants used by herbalists to treat various ailments in Tindiret area of Nandi County, Kenya
was conducted by a team comprising of medical researchers and botanists with a view to preserve indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge
and potential research and development of new drugs.
Materials and Methods: Data was collected from practicing herbalists through semi-structured interviews, group discussions and
observations. The types of medical conditions treated, treatment methods as well as the plants used were recorded.
Results and Conclusion: A total of 50 medicinal plants belonging to 28 families used for the treatment of 32 medical conditions were
recorded. The disease conditions which were treated by the highest number of plants were abdominal/colic pains with 15 different plants
recorded (13%), respiratory disorders 15(13%) and infertility14 (12%). The most widely used medicinal plants were Vernonia
amygdalina 7(7%), Toddalia asiatica 6(6%), Aloe kedongensis 5(5%) and Zanthoxylum gilletii 5(5%); whereas the families with the
highest number of plant usage were Fabaceae 8(14%), Lamiaceae 4(8%) and Solanaceae 4(8%) plants respectively. The study
documents important ethno-medical knowledge on the plants used by herbalists in Tindiret sub-county.

/pdf/ethnopharmacological-survey-of-the-medicinal-plants-used-in-5a2o9siedy.pdf

Bernard Wanjoh

Papers

Ethnopharmacological survey of the medicinal plants used in tindiret, nandi county, kenya