Antimicrobial and aphrodisiac potentials of some hausa plants of northern nigeria
B. S. Aliyu
Department of Biological Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
Abstract:
Some Hausa aphrodisiac herbal medicines are claimed to be effective for the treatment of infectious diseases, suggesting their antimicrobial activity in addition to the aphrodisiac property. This study was carried out to determine the antimicrobial and aphrodisiac activities of two Hausa plants, namely Gardenia erubescens and Fadogia agrestis. The aphrodisiac activities of ethanolic extract of the plants were evaluated in male albino rats using the Lawler method. The rats were given oral doses of 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg of body weight of each of the extracts at three hour intervals respectively. Their mounting behaviours were evaluated at each interval. This was compared with that of Sildenafil Citrate 10mg. Phytochemical analysis was also conducted on the extracts to determine their chemical constituents and acute toxicity levels (LD50) using the Lorke method. Antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract of the two plants was tested on four bacterial clinical isolates at a concentration of 500µg/disc using the agar diffusion method. Results show that F. agrestis extracts contains glycosides and carbohydrates, steroids, resins and flavonoids, while that of G. arubescens was found to contain steroids and resins. Ethanolic extract of G. arubescens had an LD50 of 316mg/kg while that of F. agrestis was not lethal at concentrations up to 5000mg/kg. Extracts of both plants resulted in significant increase in mount frequency. That of F. agrestis was found to have a similar activity with the control, Sildenafil Citrate, at all the concentrations tested. Results of the antimicrobial testing showed that extracts of F. agrestis have inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus only. G. arubescens inhibited Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Findings indicated that the diversity of chemical constituents of these plant extracts conferred on them a wide range of aphrodisiac, toxic and antimicrobial activities. The antimicrobial effects of the extracts suggest their possible use for the treatment of infections caused by the test organisms. However, further study is required on the pharmacokinetics of the extracts and the mode of administration.
