The effect of a local mineral Kadosero towards the antimicrobial activity of medicinal plant's extract: Case of Lake Victoria basin, Tarime, Tanzania

The effect of kadosero , a crude mineral used by traditional healers as a supplement to plant extracts against microbial infections was evaluated. A sample of kadosero from a local market was both analyzed for its basic composition and its role on bioactivity of plant extract. Titrimetric, Gravimetric and Atomic Absorption Spectrometric analyses were used to determine contents of the mineral kadosero . Disc Diffusion Assay was used for bioactivity screening in-vitro. Chemical analysis of kadosero revealed the presence of (0.0038mg/g), Fe2 (0.0027mg/g), Cl- (232.683mg/g) and Na+ (151.25mg/g). In-vitro tests revealed that supplementing extract of Balanites aegyptiaca with a mineral kadosero by using untreated well water reduced number of bacterial from 100 colony forming units to nil at a mass of a mineral between 60-100 mg. On the other hand, a mineral kadosero did not increase bioactivity of the extract of B. aegyptiaca against the test microbes in agar disc diffusion assay. This was attributed by interaction between the mineral kadosero and nutrient agar medium. The crude mineral kadosero can be supplemented to other plant extracts used locally for treatment of general bacterial infections for increased bioactivity. Further study is recommended to determine mechanisms for bacterial vulnerability to this mineral supplement. Keywords : mineral supplement; plant extract; traditional healers The African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Vol. 4 (1) 2007: pp. 1-6