Evaluation of the anti-bacterial activity of aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus on Streptococcus pyogenes for the treatment of tonsillitis

Abstract

Phyllanthus amarus belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, it is a tiny herb that is known for its medical benefits and used widely globally. It is also an essential plant in the Indian Ayurveda medical system, and is used to treat stomach, genitourinary, liver and kidney problems and disorders. It is an astringent with bitter, stomachic, diuretic, febrifuge, and antiseptic in gonorrhea, menorrhagia, and other genital disorders, the entire plant is employed in eastern Asia for the treatment of infections. It helps with gastritis, diarrhea, dysentery, intermittent fevers, scabies, ulcers, and wounds. The present study aimed at addressing its activity against Streptococcus pyogenes for the treatment of tonsillitis and also it’s potential as a possible source of new antimicrobial product for tonsillitis. Distilled water (maceration method) was used in the extraction of aqueous leaf extracts of Phyllanthus amarus. Different phytochemical screening techniques were used to identify the phytochemicals present in the aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus. The Agar well diffusion and broth dilution test methods were used to test for the in-vitro anti-bacterial activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus against Streptococcus pyogenes. The percentage yield of Phyllanthus amarus aqueous leaf extracted was 13.88% (83.3mg). From the results of this research Phyllanthus amarus could be a good source for future drug developments, from the aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus in order to address the issue of need for new antibiotics due to the alarming burden of antimicrobial resistance. Keywords: Phyllanthus amarus aqueous leaf extract, Tonsillitis, Streptococcus pyogenes.