Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Activity of Selected Medicinal Plants used in South African Traditional Medicine

Five plants were investigated for their antibacterial and cytotoxicity activities, namely: Lantana rugosa, Lippia javanica, Lippia wilmsii, Hilliardiella elaeagnoides and Withania somnifera. Four organisms and liver cells were used to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the extracts from these plants. All the extracts showed antibacterial activity with the MIC ranging from 0.04 ± 0.04 mg/mL to 11.46 ± 9.66 mg/mL. The acetonic extract of L. javanica exhibited the highest antibacterial activity with MIC value of 0.04 ± 0.04 mg/mL against P. aeruginosa and 0.28 ± 0.35 mg/mL against S. aureus. Aqueous and acetonic extracts of L. wilmsii (LC50 > 1000 µg/mL) and the hexane extract of L. javanica (LC50 > 1000 µg/mL) were the least cytotoxic. While acetonic extract of L. javanica (0.01 ± 0.64 µg/mL) and hexane extract of L. wilmsii (0.03 ± 0.31 µg/mL) were the most cytotoxic.