Abstract
Bacterial skin infections are a common problem encountered in clinical practice and causing great economic losses for sheep and goats producers. Increasing multidrug resistance of pathogens paves the way for reconsidering alternative medicine. The present study was carried out to explore the antibacterial activities of different volumes; 5, 25, 50 and 100 µL of gold nanoparticles (NPS) and the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of garlic, turmeric and cinnamon at different concentrations (20, 40, 80 and 100%) against molecularly confirmed Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli isolated from skin pyogenic lesions in humans, sheep and goats using disc diffusion assay. The results compared with ciprofloxacin (5 µg mL-1). Gold nanoparticles (NPS) 100 µL were highly effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli in comparing with ciprofloxacin (5 µg mL-1). Garlic has shown better activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes in aqueous solution while the ethanolic extract of cinnamon and turmeric was more efficient than the aqueous extract. Among the three tested spices, turmeric was the least effective against tested bacteria. The proven activity of 100 µL Gold nanoparticles (NPS) and 100% aqueous garlic extract compared with ciprofloxacin (5 µg mL-1), suggests their use in clinical trials as an alternative medicine to reduce the side effects and progressively increasing drug resistance of pathogens.
Highlights
Bacterial skin infections are very common and they can range from merely annoying to deadly
Bacterial skin infections are treated with antibiotics, but there is a concern that widespread antibiotic use might lead to antibiotic resistance
Confirmed Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli were obtained from pyogenic skin lesions
Summary
Bacterial skin infections are very common and they can range from merely annoying to deadly. Most bacterial infections of the skin are caused by grampositive bacteria (Streptococcus, Staphylococcus) and gram-negative (e.g., Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas) (AFHSC, 2013). Pyogenic skin infections of sheep and goats are of worldwide distribution, especially in developing countries. Bacterial skin infections are treated with antibiotics, but there is a concern that widespread antibiotic use might lead to antibiotic resistance. Certain strains of bacteria are able to produce substances which block the action of antibiotics or change their target or ability to penetrate cells (Aly, 2013). This situation forced scientists to search for a new treatment that does not generate resistance and present a good bactericidal property. Nanoparticles can act as antibacterial and antifungal agents, due to their ability to interact with
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