Biological investigations into Antidesma madagascariense Lam. (Euphorbiaceae), Faujasiopsis flexuosa (Lam.) C. Jeffre (Asteraceae), Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. and Vepris lanceolata(Lam.) G. Don (Rutaceae)

摘要

Extracts obtained from four endemic medicinal plants of Mauritius, namely, Antidesma madagascariense Lam. (Euphorbiaceae), Faujasiopsis flexuosa (Lam.) C. Jeffrey (Asteraceae), Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. and Vepris lanceolata (Lam.) G. Don (Rutaceae), were screened for antimicrobial activity. Our results showed that twenty out of twenty-eight tested extracts possessed antibacterial activity against at least one of the four test bacteria, while 17 extracts showed antifungal activity against at least one of the two test fungi. Furthermore, eight extracts obtained from these plants were found to elicit contractile responses in isolated rat smooth muscles in-vitro. Attempts were also made towards the validation of three herbal teas prescribed by traditional healers.