Terminalia genus as source of antimicrobial agents

Species of Terminalia L. genus (Combretaceae) were worldwide used in traditional medicine to treat different kind of diseases. In Africa, 30 Terminalia species were described and the traditional uses of most of it as antimicrobial agents were reported by different authors. In the present work a summary of the principal studies and results concerning the evaluation of the potential of 11 Terminalia species from Africa, America, Asia and Oceania as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiprotozoal agents or source of these will be presented. In detail, results obtained by our team concerning the antimicrobial activity of Terminalia macroptera Guill & Perr., a tree widely distributed in the savannahs and woodlands of Tropical Africa and used in Guinea-Bissau to treat infectious diarrhoeal diseases and venereal diseases, will be presented and discussed. Extracts of T. macroptera leaf and/or root have been found to be slight active against Candida albicans, and showing an interesting profile of activity against Campylobacter sp., Shigella dysenteriae, Vibrio cholerae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Helicobacter pylori and HIV-1. Obtained results corroborate total or partially with the traditional usages of T. macroptera. Also referred are species like Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia bellerica and Terminalia chebula.