Antibacterial, antifungal and antitubercular activity of (the roots of) Pelargonium reniforme (CURT) and Pelargonium sidoides (DC) (Geraniaceae) root extracts

Abstract Root extracts of Pelargonium reniforme CURT and Pelargonium sidoides DC were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal assays using the agar dilution while antitubercular assays were done using the BACTEC method at concentrations ranging from 5 × 10 3 to 500.0 mg/L. The ethanol and acetone extracts of the roots of P. sidoides inhibited the growth of Haemophilus influenzae , Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae at a concentration of 5 × 10 3 mg/L. Both acetone and ethanol extracts of P. reniforme and only the ethanol extract of P. sidoides inhibited the growth of Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum significantly at a concentration of 5 × 10 3 mg/L. Growth of Rhizopus stolonifer was suppressed by the ethanol extract of P. reniforme and P. sidoides at 5 × 10 3 and 1 × 10 3 mg/L, respectively. Acetone, chloroform and ethanol extracts of P. reniforme showed activity against M. tuberculosis exhibiting a minimum inhibitory concentration of 5 × 10 3 mg/L.