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The current study assessed the biological properties and safety profile of extracts from locally
grown banana leaves in Arusha (Tanzania) to affirm their possible use for wound dressing.
Phytoconstituents screening from studied banana plant species, ijihu inkundu (IJ), mlelembo
(ML), and kimalindi (KIM), revealed the presence of secondary metabolites: anthraquinones,
alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, phenols, phytosterol, and saponins. Susceptibility
of microorganisms to studied banana varieties were in the order of KIM > ML > IJ. One-way
analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a statistical difference of mean among all extracts (p
< 0.05). Moreover, results also revealed that all tested organisms were susceptible to the studied
banana extracts, and their susceptibility was in the order of C. albicans > C. neoformans > S.
aureus > S. typhi >E. coli > P. aeruginosa. These results suggest that the studied leaves,
especially kimalindi, may be used to dress wounds involving fungal infections (C. albicans and
C. neoformans) and bacterial infections (S. aureus), all of which are common wound infections.
Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the ability of extracts to scavenge the 2, 2-
diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. Results revealed that the scavenging of DPPH
free radical was in the order of kimalindi> ijihu inkundu> mlelembo, these results also affirming
that kimalindi extract had better scavenging of DPPH radical, and hence presents better
antioxidant activity. Brine shrimp results for toxicity showed that almost all banana leaves
extracts were practically non-toxic to the shrimps, exhibiting mild toxicity by giving the LC50
values higher than 100 µg/mL. |
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