Screening of hundred Rwandese medicinal plants for antimicrobial and antiviral properties.

A series of 100 Rwandese medicinal plants (267 plant extracts), used by traditional healers to treat infections, were screened for antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. The results of the testing showed that 45% were active against Staphylococcus aureus, 2% against Escherichia coli, 16% against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 7% against Candida albicans, 80% against Microsporum canis and 60% against Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Not less than 27% of the plant species exhibited prominent antiviral properties against one or more test viruses, more specifically 12% against poliomyelitis, 16% against coxsackie, 3% against Semliki forest, 2% against measles and 8% against herpes simplex virus.