Antibacterial Activities of Chromolaena Odorata and Jatropha Curcas Extracts Against Bacterial Isolates from Wound Infection

ABSTRACT The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains has posed a significant challenge to the field of clinical microbiology and infectious disease management. As a result, researchers have turned their attention towards exploring alternative sources of antimicrobial agents, including natural compounds derived from plants. This study was aimed at investigating the antibacterial activity of two promising botanical candidates, Chromolaena odorata and Jatropha curcas, against bacterial isolates commonly associated with wound infections. The bacteria isolates include: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes and Proteus mirabilis. Agar diffusion method was employed to determine the antibacterial effects of the leaf extracts against the wound isolates used in this study. The zone of inhibition (mm) of the extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Jatropha curcas against various bacterial isolates at different concentrations (100 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, and 12.5 mg/ml) showed that as the concentration of the extract increased, the zone of inhibition also increased, indicating a dose-dependent response. The extract of Chromolaena odorata exhibited significant effect on the test isolates, showing varying zones of inhibition ranging from 23mm to 9mm while that of Jatropha curcas also ranged from 24mm to 8mm. The MIC results of Chromolaena odorata for all tested bacterial isolates were 12.5%, with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which showed a slightly higher MIC value of 25%. For Jatropha curcas the MIC values for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were 6.25%, while against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis exhibited MIC values of 12.5%, however the value of 25% was slightly higher against Streptococcus pyogens, The MBC values of Chromolaena odorata for most tested bacterial isolates was 50%, with the exception of Streptococcus pyogenes and Proteus mirabilis, which showed MBC values of 25%. Notably, the MBC of Jatropha curcas for most tested bacterial isolates was 25%, with the exception of Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pyogenes, which showed MBC values of 50%. Chromolaena odorata and Jatropha curcas extracts demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against a diverse range of the tested bacterial isolates, including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This study revealed that both Chromolaena odorata and Jatropha curcas extracts hold great promise as alternative therapeutic options for wound infection management. Furthermore, the potential synergistic effects of Chromolaena odorata and Jatropha curcas extracts when used in combination can be researched as synergy between these plant extracts may lead to enhanced antimicrobial efficacy and reduced risk of resistance development.