Investigating the antimicrobial potential of extracts derived from Cissus populnea stems
Antimicrobial resistance poses a dire threat to public health, as it renders the once-effective antimicrobial agents ineffective against microbial infections and resistant pathogens can cause more severe and prolonged illnesses, leading to higher mortality rates and healthcare costs. Cissus populnea (Vitaceae) is used in traditional medicine to treat microbial infections, venereal diseases, infertility, and sore breast among others. The aim of the research is to investigate the antimicrobial potentials of C. populnea stem extracts against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophyte. The powdered stem of the plant was extracted with methanol and the resulting extract (MSE) was washed with hexane (HFS), chloroform (CFS), ethylacetate (EFS), n-Butanol (BFS) and methanol (MFS) to obtain the different fractions, respectively. Qualitative phytochemical screening of extract and fractions of C. populnea revealed the presence of various phytochemicals such saponins, carbohydrates, tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, steroids and proteins which varies in the fractions. Agar well diffusion and broth dilution techniques were used to assess the antimicrobial activity of the extracts against the microorganisms; the extract and fractions of the plant exhibited zones of inhibition ranging from 19 – 24 mm against the test organisms with BFS being the most active fraction while HFS was the least active. This study validates the use of this plant in traditional medicine.
Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, Cissus populnea, extract, phytochemicals, Vitaceae.
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