Antibacterial properties of traditional Sudanese medicinal materials against selected enteric bacterial strains

Folklore medicine in Sudan used medicinal materials to treat inestinal infections caused by bacterial infections or contamination of food. Methanolic and aqueous extracts of different parts of Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile gum, Haplophyllum tuberculatum Juss.aerial parts, Hydnora abyssinica A. Br.fruits, Nigella sativa L seeds, Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC. roots,and Usnea molliuscula lichen were tested for antibacterial properties at a concentration of 100 mg/mL against 20 intestinal isolates including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella para typhi B,Staphylococcus aureus, and standard bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis (NCTC 8236), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 35657), Salmonella typhi (ATCC 1319106) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), using the Agar Diffusion Method. Standard antibiotics were used as standards drug for antibacterial effect. The highest enhancing properties were observed in methanol extracts and the lowest in aqueuos extract. U. molliuscula methanolic extract was the most active among all tested plant extracts, while, the aqueous extract of H. tuberculatum had a promising level of efficacy among the aqueous extracts tested. Most responsive Gram-negative clinical isolates bacteria were S. para typhi B and P. aeruginosa. Most susceptible standard bacteria were B. subtilis (NCTC 8236). Obtained results from investigated plants confirm their antibacterial potential and usefulness in the treatment of intestinal infections.   Key words: Phytomedicine, traditional uses, antibactrial activity.