Abstract

Siphonochilus aethiopicus is often used by traditional healers as a remedy to cure colds, coughs, influenza, etc. A validation of its microbial properties from extracts obtained from leaves and rhizomes were attempted against five gram positive and four gram negative bacteria. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were noted in the ethanol extract of the rhizomes of S. aethiopicus. Extracts from the leaves also exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activities in all treatments against the selected bacterial and fungal strains. In this paper, a comparative analysis of the antibacterial and antifungal properties of both rhizomes and leaves was attempted.

Key words: Siphonochilus aethiopicus, wild ginger, antimicrobial, traditional medicines.