Evaluation of the Phytochemicals and the Antibacterial Properties of <i>Sida Acuta</i> Leaf Extract and their Effects on Wound Bacterial Isolates

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the phyto-chemical and antibacterial properties of Sida acuta leaf extract against wound bacterial isolates. Standard methods were employed in the phytochemistry, the bacterial identification and the antibiotic susceptibility assay. Ethanol and acetone were used as the extraction solvents. Results obtained from the phytochemical analyses of the ethanol the acetone extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, glycosides, polyphenols, oxalate and flavonoids. The sensitivity of the isolates to the extracts was represented by zones of inhibition at different concentrations. The highest zones of inhibition was observed at 50 mg/ml while the lowest was observed at 3.125 mg/ml. Gram-positive bacteria were found to be more sensitive to the extracts at different concentrations than the Gram-negative bacteria (p > 0.05). The minimum inhibitory concentration of both extracts against the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial isolates were: 3.125 mg/ml and 6.25 mg/ml respectively. The minimum bacteriocidal concentration of both extracts against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial isolates were: 12.5 mg/ml and 25 mg/ml respectively. The antibiogram of the isolates against standard antibiotics used as positive control revealed the resistant pattern of the isolates to conventional antibiotics used in medicine. The potential antibacterial effect of Sida acuta leaf extract has been revealed in this study, therefore its controlled use should be encouraged in the treatment of wounds and other infections caused by the bacterial isolates.

Keywords: Antimicrobial properties, Bacteria, Phytochemical analysis, Sida acuta, Wounds