Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of polyphenols from ethnomedicinal plants of Burkina Faso

Abstract

Polyphenols from four medicinal plants of Burkina Faso, Combretum micranthum, Khaya senegalensis, 
Pterocarpus erinaceus and Sida acuta, were screened for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities 
against pathogenic bacteria. The medicinal plants displayed different polyphenols contents and 
antioxidant activities. The bark of P. erinaceus had the highest antioxidant activity. Some 
microorganisms were susceptible to polyphenol extracts with minimal bactericidal concentration 
values between 20 and 2000 g/ml while other microorganisms appeared to be resistant to the extracts. 
Microbicide and microbiostatic activities of the extracts were dependent on the type of strains. Results 
suggest that these plants are not only interesting sources for antimicrobial activities but also potential 
sources of phenolic antioxidants.