Abstract:
The study documented the medicinal plants used in the treatment of influenza and common cough and
established efficacy of some plants locally used against bacteria causing upper respiratory tract
infections in Uganda. It involved an ethnobotanical survey and laboratory experimental investigation to
determine the bioactivity against selected bacteria that cause upper respiratory tract infections. Data on
medicinal indigenous knowledge was collected with the aid of questionnaires, direct observations, key
informant interviews and field excursions and voucher specimen collection. The plants were identified
by a botanist at Makerere University Herbarium (MHU), Department of Biological Sciences and voucher
specimen were deposited in the herbarium. Methanol and diethyl ether extracts of the commonly used
plants were screened for antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pneumonia and Klebsiella
pneumonia using agar well diffusion and agar well dilution methods. Ethno botanical survey showed
that 43 plants were commonly used and the most commonly used plant was Momordica feotida. Three
out of four extracts assayed had activity against S. pneumonia and K. pneumonia, while one showed
activity against K. pneumoniae. Hence, plants extracts showed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity.
There is need for further development and standardization of products to treat respiratory diseases at
household level in the study area
