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Review
. 2017 Feb 18;6(2):240-259.
doi: 10.5455/jice.20170106073231. eCollection 2017 Apr-Jun.

Antimicrobial activity of Nigerian medicinal plants

Madubuike Umunna Anyanwu  1 , Rosemary Chinazam Okoye  2
Affiliations
Review

Antimicrobial activity of Nigerian medicinal plants

Madubuike Umunna Anyanwu et al. J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. .

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is currently one of the major threats facing mankind. The emergence and rapid spread of multi- and pan-drug-resistant organisms (such as vancomycin-, methicillin-, extended-spectrum β-lactam-, carbapenem- and colistin-resistant organisms) has put the world in a dilemma. The health and economic burden associated with AMR on a global scale are dreadful. Available antimicrobials have been misused and are almost ineffective with some of these drugs associated with dangerous side effects in some individuals. Development of new, effective, and safe antimicrobials is one of the ways by which AMR burden can be reduced. The rate at which microorganisms develop AMR mechanisms outpaces the rate at which new antimicrobials are being developed. Medicinal plants are potential sources of new antimicrobial molecules. There is renewed interest in antimicrobial activities of phytochemicals. Nigeria boasts of a huge heritage of medicinal plants and there is avalanche of researches that have been undertaken to screen antimicrobial activities of these plants. Scientific compilation of these studies could provide useful information on the antimicrobial properties of the plants. This information can be useful in the development of new antimicrobial drugs. This paper reviews antimicrobial researches that have been undertaken on Nigerian medicinal plants.

Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Nigerian medicinal plants; antimicrobial resistance.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map showing Nigeria and her neighbors [17,46]
Figure 2
Figure 2
Methods used to assess antimicrobial activity of Nigerian plant extracts
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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