Antibacterial evaluation of selected Moroccan medicinal plants against Streptococcus pneumoniae

In Morocco, most people particularly in rural areas use medicinal plants to treat diseases. In order to find new antipneumococcal extracts, an ethnobotanical survey has been conducted in different regions of Marrakesh (south of Morocco). Four plants often cited by traditional practitioners (Marrubium vulgare, Thymus pallidus, Eryngium ilicifolium and Lavandula stoechas) are tested against Streptococcus pneumoniae responsible for pharyngitis, rhinitis, otitis and sinusitis infections. Aqueous and methanol extracts have been prepared and tested on S. pneumoniae collected in four regions of Marrakesh. A significant activity has been observed with methanol extracts of three plants; M. vulgare, T. pallidus and L. stoechas (MIC= 256 µg/ml)