Aerial parts of
acclimatized plants had lower MIC values (0.097 and 0.683 mg/ml)
compared to that of wild plants (0.39 and 1.953 mg/ml) against
Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Lewu
et al. (2006) observed comparable antimicrobial activity between
tubers and aerial plant parts of wild Pelargonium sidoides plants
and speculated that identical active compounds were present
albeit in different concentrations. The substitution of underground
with aerial plant parts may be a practical strategy that satisfies
both the requirements of sustainable harvesting as well as the
provision of primary health care needs (Zchocke et al., 2000).