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Mmushi T MSc (Microbiology).pdf

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Secondly, it’s clear and marked biological activity made it a good candidate for further<br />

study. The plant has been reported to have molluscicidal activity and only two<br />

compounds were isolated which are iridoid genipin and its 10-monoacetate derivative<br />

(Drewes and Kayonga, 1996).<br />

From the six sub-fractions obtained from acetone extract only three had activity with<br />

retention factor ranging between 0.40-0.67 (Fig. 3.24). Bioassay-guided fractionation<br />

was followed to isolate the active compound.<br />

Results shown in Figures 3.24, 3.26 and 3.27 demonstrated that the extracts were<br />

losing activity with each step of purification. The findings were similar for both<br />

compounds. Loss of activity is a common problem associated with attempts to purify<br />

single compound from crude plant extracts. For example, Nwodo et al., (2010) made<br />

similar observations and one reason for lost of activity has been advanced. It has been<br />

argued that since crude extracts contains several compounds these compounds may<br />

act synergistically to give elevated activity. Therefore when attempts are made to obtain<br />

a single compound the other compounds are lost and hence a drop in activity. These<br />

findings suggest that it might be better to use the crude extracts for anti-mycobacterial<br />

application than the purified compounds. This might explain why people in developing<br />

countries prefer to use crude extracts for antimicrobial therapy. The use of crude<br />

extracts for antimicrobial therapy may act to reduce the development of resistant<br />

microbes. It is easier for a pathogenic microbe to develop resistance against a single<br />

purified compound than a mixture of compounds (extract) which target different<br />

compounds or sites responsible for pathogenicity of an organism.<br />

Conclusion and future work<br />

As noted, A. dimidiata is highly valued by the Zulu in their traditional medicine (Van Wyk<br />

and Wink, 2004). The leaves are used in the treatment of ear inflammation. The stem<br />

barks have the highest molluscicidal activity (Pretorius et al., 1991) and also its infusion<br />

is used as an enema for intestinal parasites. The current research found that out of the<br />

15 plants investigated, A. dimidiata was active against both M. smegmatis and R.<br />

erythropolis. So this research, to some extent, supports the indigenous traditional use of<br />

96

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