Antimicrobial activities of some medicinal plants used in folklore remedies in Enugu State, Nigeria

Background: The adoption of traditional medicine as an alternative or complementary therapy is increasingly recognized in primary healthcare across the globe due to its effectiveness in treating mild, chronic, and often difficult-to-cure ailments such as wound infections and diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial activities of traditional wound healing agents.

Materials and Methods: A total of 5 typed strains, including Providencia vermicola strain 6G (KC775772), Proteus terrae strain TYFW6 (MZ960174), Proteus vulgaris strain LC-693 (CP063314), Klebsiella aerogenes strain CX-70 (MH368390) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PHB3 (JQ327806), were purchased from Prof. Tasie, a F.0. of the Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing at Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani. Aloe barbadensis miller (Aloe vera) gel was obtained from Ogbete main market in Enugu Metrpolis, honey was gotten from Nsukka, and Persea americana (avocado) leaves were obtained from Nkanu, they are all traditional wound healing agents that were procured from local vendors in Enugu State. Honey was examined for physicochemical parameters and subsequently extracted using acetone and ethanol solvents. The avocado leaves were macerated for twenty minutes and extracted using acetone and ethanol solvents, while the Aloe vera gel were lyophilized and extracted using acetone and ethanol solvents. Standard methodologies were implemented to conduct preliminary qualitative phytochemical analyses in order to identify concentrations of fundamental phytocomponents. The extracts of the avocado and Aloe vera gel were reconfigured to concentrations of 200, 100, 50, 25mg/ml using 5ml of dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) (w/v). The honey extracts were reconstituted to concentrations of 200, 100, 50, 25mg/ml using 5ml of hot water. Using the diffusion technique with agar wells, the isolates were examined for their susceptibility to the extracts. Based on the results of the agar well diffusion method, the lowest concentration of inhibition was determined. Using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, the drug resistance pattern of isolates was examined.

Results: The presence of phytochemicals (phenol, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloid compounds, saponins, steroids, glycosides, and tannins) was identified in the phytochemical analysis of acetone and ethanol extracts of honey, Aloe vera gel, and avocado leaves. Greater groups of inhibition on all the isolates were observed in the ethanol solutions of honey, aloe vera gel, and avocado leaves at 200mg/ml. Proteus vulgaris exhibited the maximum zone of inhibition in ethanol extracts of honey, measuring 26mm. Providencia vermicola, Proteus terrae, Klebsiella aerogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited zones of inhibition of 28mm respectively. Honey, aloe vera gel, and avocado leaves demonstrated favorable results in comparison to the control antibiotic, Ciprofloxacin. The extracts of avocado leaves, honey, and aloe vera gel had a minimum inhibitory concentration of 25mg/ml on all isolates. Septrin exhibited 100% resistance in all isolates, while Providencia vermicola, Proteus vulgaris, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited 100% resistance to augmentin. The majority of the isolates were sensitive to the antibiotics tested. The acetone extraction of avocado leaves exhibited the lowest efficacy in blocking the growth of wound isolates, while the ethanol extract of honey exhibited the highest efficacy at P >0.5 as per the study.

Conclusion: Honey, Aloe vera gel and Avocado leaves are easily accessible, potent, economical and safe to man, therefore, it is recommended as a topical agent for the treatment of wounds in developing countries.