An Analysis of Plants Traditionally Used by Plains Indians as Topical Antiseptics for Antimicrobial Effectiveness

This study examines the effectiveness in the laboratory of Plains Indian plant remedies traditionally used as topical antiseptics to prevent or treat infections of the skin. Thirty different medicinal plants found growing in southeast wyoming used by Plains Indians as antiseptics were tested Extracts of each plant's fluids were filter sterilized and tested against nine different bacteria and one yeast. Fifty percent of the native plants isolated from southeast Wyoming and historically used by Plains Indians as topical antiseptics did exhibit some antimicrobial properties in vitro.