Journal Article

Antimicrobial activities evaluation and phytochemical screening of some selected medicinal plants: A possible alternative in the treatment of multidrug-resistant microbes

Tufa, Abreham, Gadisa, Eshetu, Kebede, Taye

2021

Overview

Four out of five individuals rely on traditional medicine for their primary healthcare needs. Medicinal plants are endowed with diverse bioactive compounds to treat multidrug-resistant (MDR) microbes. So far, a less thorough examination has been made in this regard. This study aimed to evaluate antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of selected medicinal plants against MDR microbes. In vitro experimental study was carried out to evaluate antimicrobial effects and phytochemical screening of Rumex abyssinicus, Cucumis pustulatus, Discopodium penninervium, Lippia adoensis, Euphorbia depauperata, Cirsium englerianum, and Polysphaeria aethiopica against MDR bacteria and fungi. Aqueous and 80% methanolic extraction methods were employed for extraction. The susceptibility test, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal or fungicidal concentration were measured using disc diffusion or broth micro-dilution as per the CLSI protocols. The 80% methanolic extraction method was a preferred method to aqueous. The phytochemical constituents identified were alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenolic, tannins, terpenoidss, and cardiac glycosides. The hydroalcoholic extract demonstrated an appreciable antimicrobial role against MDR microbes with an MIC value of 1.0-128.0μg/ml and 11-29mm inhibition zone (IZ) in diameter. Extracts obtained from C. englerianum and E. depauperata showed a significant IZ ranged of 26-29mm on MRSA and Streptococcus pyogenes. MDR E. coli and K. pneumoniae showed 12-25mm and 23-28mm IZ in diameter, respectively. T. mentagraphytes was susceptible to all tested extracts. Moreover, S. pyogenes and K. pneumoniae were found the most susceptible bacteria to C. englerianum. Cirsium englerianum, L. adoensis, D. penninervium, and R. abyssinicus demonstrated remarkable antifungal effect against C. albicans and T. mentagrophytes, while R. abyssinicus showed the leading antifungal effect with 32 to 64μg/ml MIC values. The plant extracts have shown appreciable antimicrobial activities comparable to the currently prescribed modern drugs tested. Accordingly, further studies on clinical efficacy trial, safety, toxicity and affordability analyses have to be instigated promptly, so as to head to the final step to synthesize precursor molecules for new effective antimicrobials.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry / Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology / Anti-infective agents / Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry / Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology / Antibacterial activity / Antibiotics / Antifungal Agents - chemistry / Antifungal Agents - pharmacology / Antiinfectives and antibacterials / Antimicrobial agents / Bacteria / Bacteria - drug effects / Bacterial infections / Biology and Life Sciences / Chemical properties / Contraceptives / Diabetes mellitus / Disease transmission / Drug resistance / Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial - drug effects / E coli / Electric power / Electric power supplies / Erectile dysfunction / Euphorbia - chemistry / Evaluation / Fungi / Fungi - drug effects / Health aspects / Health care facilities / Health services / Hepatitis / Herbal medicine / Hypertension / Infections / Laboratories / Lippia - chemistry / Medical treatment / Medicinal plants / Medicine and Health Sciences / Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Microorganisms / Morbidity / Multidrug resistance / Multidrug resistant organisms / Natural products / Physical Sciences / Phytochemicals / Phytochemicals - chemistry / Phytochemicals - pharmacology / Plant extracts / Plant Extracts - chemistry / Plant Extracts - pharmacology / Plants, Medicinal - chemistry / Pneumonia / Public health / Sexually transmitted diseases / Skin diseases / Social security / Staphylococcus infections / STD / Urinary tract