Antibacterial Activity of Aloe vera Gel against Multidrug Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been implicated as important nosocomial pathogens causing severe infections especially in hospitalized patients. The aim of the study was to assess the antibacterial activity of Aloe vera gel against multidrug resistant S. aureus and P. aeruginosa isolated from wound. Clinical isolates of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa from wound infection were collected from Microbiology laboratory of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH), Kaduna and re-confirmed using standard microbiological procedure. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates was determined using Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Aloe vera gel was obtained fresh matured leaves of Aloe vera plant and was screened for the presence of phytochemical constituents. Antibacterial activity of the Aloe vera gel against Multidrug Resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates was determined by agar well diffusion technique. The result revealed that all the two isolates were resistant to more than three classes of antibiotics. The Staphylococcus aureus isolate was resistant to fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin), aminoglycoside (gentamicin), cephalosporin (cefaroline), folate pathway antagonist (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), penicillin(cefoxitin) and macrolide (erythromycin) while the Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate was resistant to β- lactam (ticarcillin-clavulanate), fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin), aminoglycoside (gentamicin) and cephalosporin (ceftazidime)hence regarded as MDR isolates. Phytochemical screening of the gel revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids and alkaloids. The Aloe vera gel was found to have antibacterial activity against the test isolates with MIC and MBC values of 25µg/mL and 50µg/mL against MDR S. aureus 50µg/mL and 100µg/mL against MDR P. aeruginosa respectively. The study identified that Aloe vera gel possesses antibacterial activity against MDR S. aureus and P. aeruginosa isolated from wound infection.