International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Etus Patrick Chimuanya, Erienu Kennedy Obruche
Abstract: The increasing resistance of micro-organisms to conventional antibiotics has become a significant global health concern, driving the exploration of alternative antimicrobial agents, particularly plant-based natural products. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of selected medicinal plants in the treatment of infections caused by micro-organisms, with a primary focus on assessing their antimicrobial effectiveness. To achieve this, an experimental research design was employed. Plant materials were carefully collected, processed, and subjected to detailed phytochemical screening to identify the presence of bioactive compounds. Standard laboratory procedures were used to prepare plant extracts, which were subsequently tested against a range of selected pathogenic micro-organisms using the agar well diffusion method. The zones of inhibition formed around the wells were measured, and the results were analyzed statistically to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of each extract. Findings revealed that the selected plant extracts exhibited varying degrees of antimicrobial activity. Significant zones of inhibition were observed against the bacterial isolates, which suggested the presence of active phytochemical constituents, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins. These results also indicated that some plant extracts exhibited antimicrobial properties comparable to those of standard antibiotics. In conclusion, the study confirms that medicinal plants possess considerable antimicrobial potential, offering promising alternatives for the management of infections caused by resistant micro-organisms. The study recommends further research to isolate, purify, and identify the active compounds responsible for these effects, with the goal of developing them into pharmaceutical products.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18885288
