Aim: To evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanol extracts of Odina wodier bark (OWB), a folk medicine, against representative bacteria, fungi and herpes simplex virus (HSV) associated with skin infections.
Methods and results: The OWB extract(s) was found to inhibit the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli at an MIC of 256-5000 μg ml(-1) and Candida albicans at and above 4000 μg ml(-1) by agar and broth dilution assays. The growth curve of Staph. aureus revealed the highest activity within 2-6 h of methanol extract (ME) exposure. Interestingly, the MTT and plaque reduction assay showed that the extracts can inhibit HSV-1 and HSV-2 at EC50 of 22·4 and 28·8 μg ml(-1) , with Selectivity index of 11·7-15. While the time kinetic and binding assays demonstrated that the ME at 50 μg ml(-1) prevents viral attachment into Vero cells. Phytochemical and HPLC analysis of ME revealed the presence of flavonoids, phytosterols, saponins and tannins including the pseudotannin chlorogenic acid.
Conclusion: The traditional use of OWB for the management of skin infections has scientific basis.
Significance and impact of the study: This study demonstrated the antimicrobial potential of OWB on selected isolates of bacteria, fungi and HSV, associated with skin infections.
Keywords: Odina wodier; anti-HSV activity; antibacterial; skin infection; tribal folklore.
© 2013 The Society for Applied Microbiology.