The Traditional Medicinal Use of the Plant

The Moringaceae family includes Moringa stenopetala. In its native habitat, the plant is widely renowned for its nutritional and therapeutic benefits. For instance, it has been said that southern Ethiopians boil and consume the leaves as vegetables. The herb has also reportedly been used medicinally in addition to for nutritive purposes. Its leaves and roots (root barks) are reportedly used as medicines for a variety of ailments, including malaria, wounds, diarrhoea, inducing vomiting, asthma, epilepsy, respiratory illnesses, diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal issues, and visceral leishmaniasis, also known as Kala-azar. This investigation was started to screen for phytochemicals and assess the antibacterial efficacy of M. stenopetala root bark extracts.

The study was carried out at The Department of Chemistry and Department of Microbiology, Jimma University, Ethiopia. The Moringaceae family includes Moringa stenopetala. In its native habitat, the plant is widely renowned for its nutritional and therapeutic benefits. For instance, it has been said that southern Ethiopians boil and consume the leaves as vegetables. The herb has also reportedly been used medicinally in addition to for nutritive purposes. Its leaves and roots (root barks) are reportedly used as medicines for a variety of ailments, including malaria, wounds, diarrhoea, inducing vomiting, asthma, epilepsy, respiratory illnesses, diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal issues, and visceral leishmaniasis, also known as Kala-azar. This investigation was started to screen for phytochemicals and assess the antibacterial efficacy of M. stenopetala root bark extracts.

The tests were carried out following the standardized practices (tests). The findings showed that all three extracts contained secondary metabolites like alkaloids, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, polyphenols, and phytosterols. Heavy metals and germs can be taken out of waste or contaminated water using M. stenopetala. The findings of the current investigation showed that, to varying degrees, all of the crude extracts had potent in vitro antibacterial activity against the four bacterial strains that were used in the experiment. The results of this study are in agreement with earlier studies that found secondary metabolites such alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, anthraquinones, polyphenols, and phytosterols to have antibacterial properties. The current study's findings support both the plant's historical use as a medicine and M. stenopetala potential as a future source of not just antibacterial drugs but also additional agents for treating human ailments.

JOURNAL REFERENCE

Teshome, M., L. Adane and Y. Tariku, 2021. Phytochemical screening and evaluation of antibacterial activities of root bark extracts of Moringa stenopetala. Res. J. Med. Plants, 15: 1-6.