Antibacterial, cytotoxic activities and chemical composition of fruits of two Cameroonian Zanthoxylum species

Zanthoxylum leprieurii and Z. zanthoxyloides are extensively used by traditional healers in Cameroon for the treatment of various ailments. To scientifically validate their traditional use, in vitro antimicrobial and anticancer assays were performed. Chemical compositions of their fruit essential oils and methanol extracts were studied. Extracts, essential oils and some of the isolated compounds were tested against a panel of human pathogenic bacteria by diffusion and dilution methods. MTT assay was used for the cytotoxic studies.148