Abstract:
ABSTRACT
The leaves, stem barks and roots of Tithonia diversifolia are used by traditional medicine practitioners in Kenya to treat various diseases such as constipatIOn, stomach pains, indigestion, sore throat and liver pains. The medicine made from the plant is also claimed by traditional doctors to be a potent antimicrobial and antiparasItIc agent.
Chemical analysis of the plant extracts using Thin layer chromatography revealed presence of phenolic and terpenoidal compounds In the leaves, stembarks and roots respectively. Saponin was exclusIvely present in the leaves in addition to the above compounds.
Chrorofonn extracts or powdered stembarks yielded compounds rich in terpenOlds vvhile industrial methylated spirit extracts of the roots gave compounds rich in phenols.
100mg/mi of the ethanolic extract was prepared for each of the plant parts and doubly diluted LIp to 50 mglml. The efficacy of these concentrations was then tested against -standard strains of Escherichia coli (A TCC 25922); st(lphviocoCCllS QllrellS (A TC 25923)
-- and pselldomollas (leruginosa (ATCC 27853).
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The standard strains, exhibited resistance against the ethanolic extracts for both dilutions -and this was in comparison to the standard antibiotics used; tobramycIn (1 O)lg/m I) and
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Gentamycin (I O~lg/ml) which the standard strains were sensistive to. The latter acted as
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thepositive control. Kirby bauer method was used in the antimicrobial sensItivity testing.
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In addition to showing antibacterial activity for upto 50)lg/ml concentration, compounds isolated from Tithonia Diversifolia have also antiparastic activity. Toxicological studies,
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have also shown that the medicine is safe. These studies were not investigated for though the plant, is credited for its medicinal values.
