Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Tabernaemontana pandacaqui Lam. against Wound-Infecting Pathogens

Abstract

Wound infections caused by antibiotic-resistant microorganisms are widely recognized as a major public health concern, particularly in developing countries. To combat antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, it is critical to develop new antimicrobial agents. Local medicinal plants are viewed as potential candidates for the treatment of microbial infections. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine the antimicrobial activity of Tabernaemontana pandacaqui Lam. leaves against wound-infecting pathogens. The biologically active constituents of the plant were identified using qualitative phytochemical screening and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis of the crude extract. The study's findings indicated that T. pandacaqui leaf extract was antimicrobial against a variety of pathogens tested. The highest zone of inhibition was observed against the pathogenic fungus Candida tropicalis at a mean value of 17.73 ± 2.42 mm, followed by Staphylococcus aureus at a mean value of 14.73 ± 3.17 mm. However, leaf extracts had no inhibitory effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and metallo-beta-lactamase Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MβL- P.aeruginosa). The bioactivity of leaf extracts is attributed to the active constituents contained within. The results indicated a statistically significant difference in the leaf extract's efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus (p=0.007) and Candida tropicalis (p=0.008). The current findings indicate that T. pandacaqui leaf extracts have antimicrobial activity against wound-infecting pathogens. Additional research is needed to determine the antimicrobial potential of the crude extracts against other infectious agents.