European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

INTRINSIC BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF CRUDE METHANOL EXTRACTS OF Olinia rochetiana (Syn. O. usambarensis Gilg A. JUSS) PENAECEAE (KABIDELELIET)

Amuka O*, Mulei J. M. and Jeruto P.

ABSTRACT

The Ogiek, who are Indigenous, live in the dense Afromontane Mau forest, Kenya. They have harnessed various forest products for their livelihood and Olinia rochetiana A. Juss is one of the species which is intensely being used. The plant bark has grey, smooth or rough, sometimes flaking. Flowers cream fading to pink and red, scented, in round pyramidal cymes; young square branches. Freshly blooming leaves of the plant were collected from Kaptuiget Forest and dried at room temperature to moisture content of 13%. The dried material was prepared to test bioactivity. There was bioactivity against the selected bacteria with good inhibitory activities and increased in the zones of inhibition with increase in the drug concentration. Further subcultering showed no bactericidal effects. There was also no fungicidal activities. It is recommended that for the safety of the users cytotoxic studies should be done to validate its continued use in herbal medicine.

Keywords: Olinia rochetiana, bactericidal, human, blooming leaves.