Pharmacology study of Kalanchoe crenata (Andr) Haw. (Crassulacae)

Kalanchoe crenata (Andr) Haw plant is among the census plants, the most used in almost all the villages of Ndé to treat otitis. A plant of the same family, Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam) Pers, is used in Burkina-Fasso and even in other regions of Cameroon to treat the same pathology. K. crenata plant commonly used in traditional medicine against otitis contains phenolic acids, saponosides, flavonoids and sterols.

Chemical analysis showed the presence of many phenolic acids: p-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechic, vanillic, gallic, syringic, salicylic. The plant also contains 4-methyl resorcinol, resorcinol and phloroglucinol. Regarding the organic acids, the plant contains: citric, ascorbic, lactic and malic acid.

The antibacterial activity of plant extract obtained by leaves expression was tested against standard strains of Escherichia coli, Accinetobacter, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis. The tests were conducted following the methods of deposit spot and filing papers discs. The extract of Kalanchoe crenata showed an activity on some bacteria like Accinetobacter, Proteus mirabilis (from 0.61ml/ml) and Staphylococcus aureus (from 1.30ml/ml).

Escherichia coli and Klebsiella have been resistant to the volumes used. Our subsequent works will see forward to better precise this pharmacologic action and to ameliorate the galenic presentation of this phytomedicine.

Acknowledgements: We thank the laboratory of Pharmacognosy at the University of Mountains and traditional healers who have helped this study.