Growth inhibitory properties and antimicrobial evaluation of Aloe schweinfurthii (Baker) leaf rind extract

Cancer and infectious diseases combined are leading cause of death and public health concern. In developing countries, about 80% of the populace depends on medicinal plants for their general health care needs including treatment of infectious diseases and cancer. Aloe schweinfurthii (Aloaceae) is a small medicinal herb that is commonly used for the treatment of cancerous and infectious diseases in South-West Nigeria. The focus of this study was to evaluate the growth inhibitory and antimicrobial activities of the herb. The rind of the herb was collected, air dried, pulverized and extracted into distilled methanol by cold maceration. The dried extract obtained was subjected to growth inhibitory and antimicrobial assays. The extract displayed concentration dependent growth inhibitory activity with IC50 of 484.7±2.16 and 1188±2.32μg/mL compared to cyclophosphamide with IC50 of 174.3±0.19 and 834.5±0.84 μg/mL in Sorghum bicolor radical and Allium cepa root growth inhibitory assays, respectively. The extract displayed concentration dependent antibacterial and antifungal effects with the highest activity against C. freundi (18 mm zone of inhibition) at 50 mg/mL. The extract of Aloe schweinfurthii leaf rind displayed marked growth inhibitory and antimicrobial bioactivities. The extract maybe considered as a viable candidate for discovery of chemotherapeutic agent (s).