Abstract
Forty-three crude drug samples, prepared from 18 plants belonging to 14 families were screened for antibacterial activity against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus), and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi) bacteria and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Eighteen of the 43 extracts showed good activity against the Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria but, after removal of the tannins, the bacterial activity of 16 of the 18 plants was lost. Attempts have also been made towards the validation of some of the herbal teas prescribed by traditional healers.