Antibacterial activity of methanol extracts of the leaves of\xa0three medicinal plants against selected bacteria isolated from wounds of lymphoedema patients

Dereje Nigussie,Abebaw Fekadu,Belete Adefris Legesse,Gail Davey,Eyasu Makonnen

doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03183-0

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with lymphoedema are at high risk of getting bacterial and fungal wound infections leading to acute inflammatory episodes associated with cellulitis and erysipelas. In Ethiopia, wound infections are traditionally treated with medicinal plants.MethodsAgar well diffusion and colorimetric microdilution methods were used to determine the antibacterial activity of methanol extracts of the three medicinal plants against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shewanella alage, methicillin-resistant S. aureus ATCC®43300TM, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC700603, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC37853.ResultsThe methanol extract of L. inermis leaves showed high activity against all tested bacterial species, which was comparable to the standard drugs. Similarly, the extracts of A. indica showed activity against all tested species though at higher concentrations, and higher activity was recorded against Streptococcus pyogenes isolates at all concentrations. However, the extract of A. aspera showed the lowest activity against all tested species except Streptococcus pyogenes isolates. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was recorded with the extract of L. inermis against E. coli isolate and S. aureus ATCC 25923.ConclusionMethanol extracts of L. inermis, A. indica, and A. aspera leaves exhibited antimicrobial activity against selected bacterial isolates involved in wound infections, of which the methanol extracts of L. inermis exhibited the highest activity. The results of the present study support the traditional use of plants against microbial infections, which could potentially be exploited for the treatment of wound infections associated with lymphoedema.

Highlights

Patients with lymphoedema are at high risk of getting bacterial and fungal wound infections leading to acute inflammatory episodes associated with cellulitis and erysipelas
Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts The methanol extracts of L. inermis, A. aspera and A. indica leaves tested positive for alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, tannins and steroids tests
All three concentrations (100, 200, and 400 mg/milli gram per ml (mL)) of L. inermis showed significant activity against all tested bacteria species, which was comparable to the standard drugs

Summary

Introduction

Patients with lymphoedema are at high risk of getting bacterial and fungal wound infections leading to acute inflammatory episodes associated with cellulitis and erysipelas. Patients with lymphoedema are at high risk of wound infection because of loss of skin integrity [2], resulting in ingress of microorganisms. Acute inflammatory episodes associated with cellulitis and erysipelas are common complications of wounds in lymphoedema patients, and most infections are caused by group A, C, or G streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria [2]. Microorganisms known to cause chronic wound infection and cellulitis in lymphoedematous limbs include Streptococci species, Staphylococci species, Pseudomonas species, and Bacteroides species [5]. Lymphangitis is an inflammation of the lymphatic system due to bacterial infection after invasion through skin wounds or abrasions [6]

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