Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of Six Edible Rhizomes Used in Traditional Medicine in Lubumbashi (DRC)

Abstract

Microbial infections are dominant pathologies in the DRC where, to deal with them, several people resort to plants used in traditional medicine. This assesses the antimicrobial activity of six edible rhizomes used in traditional medicine in the city of Lubumbashi (DRC) and identifies phytochemical groups. Phytochemical screening by solution reactions allowed the identification of flavonoids, saponins and tannins in all rhizomes, and in 66.7% of the rhizomes were found quinones and terpenoids. The dilution method allowed the evaluation of antibacterial activity, aqueous (EAQ) and methanolic (EME) extracts. This varies from very high (MIC = 1.7 μg/mL) to medium (MIC = 50 μg/mL). Eriosema verdikii (EME: MIC = 1.7 μg/mL on N. meningitidis and S. aureus) has the greatest antibacterial in the collection and Imperata cylindrica (EAQ: MIC = 1.7 μg/mL On Trichophyton rubrum), the greatest antifungal activity. The results obtained by this study show that the six rhizomes studied, along with their food virtues, possess antibacterial and antifungal properties that can explain their use in traditional medicine against various conditions; In addition, the various phytochemical groups within them would play an important role in the proven virtues.