In vitro Antisalmonella and Antioxidant Activity of Hydroethanolic and Aqueous Extracts of Bauhinia rufescens Leaf and Stem Bark Extracts

In Chad, enteric fever remains a major public health problem where it is still endemic due to the precariousness of life hygiene combined with the abusive and inappropriate use of antibiotics. Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antisalmonella and antioxidant activity of extracts from the leaves and stem bark of B. rufescens.

Methods: Phytochemical screening of these extracts was performed by standard methods to justify the observed activities. The antisalmonella activity was evaluated using the liquid microdilution method. Antioxidant activity of these extracts was determined by investigating their 1, 1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH●) antiradical and iron reducing capacities.

Results: The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) were varied from 256 to 1024 µg/ml. The 95% hydroethanolic extract of the leaves exhibited higher DPPH● antiradical activity than all extracts and IC50s ≤ 20 μg/ml for all extracts tested.

Conclusion: These results showed that the 95% hydroethanolic extract of B. rufescens leaves possess in vitro antisalmonella and antioxidant activities and could be used for in vivo antisalmonella and antioxidant studies.