Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Müll.Arg. Leaves Extracts Against Multi-Drug-Resistant Bacterial Isolates from Post-Operative Wound Infections (Published)
The treatment of post-operative wound infections has been exacerbated by frequent evolvement of multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens. Consequently, this study evaluated the phytochemical and antibacterial properties of methanol, ethanol, and aqueous crude extracts of Alchornea cordifolia leaves for their efficacy against selected MDR bacterial isolates from patients with surgical site infection (SSI). Bacterial isolates obtained within 12 months from patients clinically diagnosed of SSI in five specialist hospitals in Calabar-Nigeria were analyzed and identified using standard techniques. Among the MDR-isolates, eight highly resistant bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus epidermidis) were selected for further evaluation. The susceptibility profiles of these isolates were assessed against crude extracts of Alchornea cordifolia leaves. Additionally, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), and phytochemical properties of the extracts were determined to evaluate their antimicrobial potential. The ethanol crude extract of A. cordifolia leaves demonstrated superior broad-spectrum activity against the MDR-SSI isolates compared to the aqueous and methanol extracts, even at the lowest tested concentration of 62.5 mg/mL, and also exhibited an MBC/MIC ratio of ≤4 mg/mL, indicating bactericidal properties. Further qualitative phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of bioactive compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, phenolics, and anthraquinones in varying concentrations. A. cordifolia leaves possesses potent antimicrobial properties and various phytochemical constituents and is therefore recommended for further studies towards potential drug development in order to enhance therapeutic options against MDR bacterial pathogens associated with SSI.
Keywords: Alchornea cordifolia, Antibiotics, Bacteria, infections, multi-drug resistance, phytochemicals, post-operative wounds
Acute Toxicity Profile and Protection Assay of Alchornea Cordifolia Leaves Extract Against Selected Multi-Drug-Resistant Bacterial Pathogens from Surgical Site Infections (Published)
The increasing challenge of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens presents a significant threat in managing surgical site infections (SSIs), necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic agents. Alchornea cordifolia, a medicinal plant used in ethnomedicine, is renowned for its wound healing potentials based on its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the acute toxicity profile and in vivo protective efficacy of the ethanol extract of A. cordifolia leaves, against selected MDR bacterial isolates obtained from patients clinically diagnosed of SSIs, in five major hospitals within Calabar-Nigeria. Acute toxicity evaluation was conducted in mice following standard protocol, to determine the extract’s safety. The in vivo efficacy of the extract was also assessed on its ability to mitigate the establishment of infection in murine models infected with the MDR-SSI test isolates. Results revealed a favourable safety profile of the extract, with an LD50 of 1,732.0mg/kg. Further in vivo assessments demonstrated notable protective efficacy/antibacterial activity of the A. cordifolia extract, as it exerted 100% protection against mortality in mice due to induced infection with E. cloacae, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, A. baumannii, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa test isolates, while also exerting 50% protection against mortality in mice due to induced infection with E. coli and S. epidermidis test isolates. These findings suggests that the ethanol extract of A. cordifolia leaves holds promise as a safe and effective therapeutic option against surgical site infection caused by MDR bacterial pathogens, and underscores the need for integrating modern pharmacological approaches in the validation of ethnomedicinal plants.
Keywords: Acute Toxicity, Alchornea cordifolia, Antibacterial activity, pathogens, surgical site infections