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Antibacterial activity of four traditionally used medicinal plants viz. Zingiber officinale Allium sativum Mentha spicata and Ocimum basilicum have been studied against fish bacterial pathogens using agar disc diffusion method. Bacterial pathogens including Shigella flexneri Enterobacter amnigenus Salmonella typhimurium and Serratia odorifera were isolated from spoiled Rita rita and Schizothorax plagiostomus. Ethanolic and methanolic extracts of naturally dried A. sativum and Z. officinale significantly inhibited the growth of S. typhimurium S. flexneri and E. amnigenus. Additionally all extracts of O. basilicum substantiated moderate inhibition of all tested pathogens whereas ethanolic diethyl ether and chloroform extracts of M. spicata corroborated low effect against all pathogens except S. flexneri. Honey also inhibited growth of S. odorifera E. amnigenus and S. flexneri. Activity index analysis showed the potential use of these plants and honey against S. flexneri when compared to antibiotics. All extracts of medicinal plants also indicated the significant antioxidant activity. The present study shows that these traditional medicinal plants and honey could potentially be used as antibacterial and antioxidant agents.

Background Patent ductus arteriosus is one of the most common cardiac conditions affecting the neonates. Considering the lack of studies done on this topic in healthcare settings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, this study aims to find out the comparative effectiveness of paracetamol and ibuprofen in management of PDA in our healthcare setting to conclude a better management option for the condition. Objective To find and compare the effectiveness of paracetamol and ibuprofen in the closure of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates. Methodology This randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Department of Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from 10th April 2024 to 10th October 2024. A total of 256 neonates of both genders with patent ductus arteriosus were included. Group A received oral paracetamol, and Group B received oral ibuprofen. The effectiveness of the treatments was evaluated at the end of the treatment period. Results The age range in this study was from 48 to 96 h, with a mean age of 71.79 ± 13.10 h in Group A and 73.40 ± 11.81 h in Group B. Efficacy was observed in 107 (83.6%) patients in Group A compared to 90 (70.3%) patients in Group B, showing a statistically significant difference ( P  = 0.011). Conclusion Our study has concluded that paracetamol is more effective than ibuprofen in closing patent ductus arteriosus. The trials were retrospectively registered at NIH Trial Registry (NCT06601114) https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06601114 dated 15/09/2024. Key points • This study was conducted to find and compare the effectiveness of paracetamol and ibuprofen in the closure of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates within the healthcare setting of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. • This study conclude that paracetamol is more effective than ibuprofen in closing patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm neonates. • The higher efficacy rate observed with paracetamol suggests that it may be a preferable first-line treatment for PDA in this population.