an investigation into the antibacterial activities of medicinal plants ...

4.2.2 Traditional preparations
Besides processing the plants with different solvents for extraction, the traditional
method of preparation for each plant was also included for analysis (Van Wyk et al.,
1997; Grierson & Afolayan, 1999b).
Decoctions were made for Leonotis leonurus, Melianthus major and
Zantedeschia aethiopica, by combining 5g leaves and 100ml distilled water in
a covered glass flask boiling for 5 minutes.
An infusion for Bulbine frutescens was made by pouring 100ml boiled distilled
water onto 5g crushed leave gel leaving it to stand covered for 5 minutes.
4.3 Bacteria and growth conditions
Seventy-three bacterial strains isolated from burn wounds were collected in semisolid
agar at the NHLS, Port Elizabeth. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns were obtained
for each of the bacteria. Semi-solid agar was stored at room temperature and subcultured
when required.
TABLE 4
The number of bacterial strains tested for antibacterial activity
Number of bacterial strains tested
Selected bacteria:
Gram-positive:
Staphylococcus aureus
Methicillin-resistant S. aureus
Streptococcus pyogenes
Enterococcus feacalis
Total screened:
7
8
6
11
MIC
determination:
4
4
5
5
Gram-negative:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
5
3
Acinetobacter baumanii
13
5
Klebsiella pneumoniae
8
5
Proteus mirabilis
15
5
Total bacterial strains tested 73 36
45