The Emergence of Antimicrobial Resistance Necessitates Alternative Approaches to Combating Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance necessitates alternative approaches to
combating bacterial and fungal pathogens. This study evaluated the antimicrobial
efficacy of Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts against
Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Epidermophyton species.
Standard antimicrobial assays were employed to determine zones of inhibition,
minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal
concentrations (MBC/MFC). The ethanolic extract exhibited superior antibeterial
and antifungal activity compared to the aqueous extract. The zones of inhibition for
the ethanolic extract ranged from 12 mm (Epidermophyton species) to 2 mm
(Streptococcus pyogenes), while the aqueous extract showed zones of 8 mm and 18
mm for the same organisms, respectively. MIC and MBC/MFC values demonstrated
that the ethanolic extract required lower concentrations to inhibit and kill the test
organisms. For example, the MIC and MBC for Klebsiella pneumoniae were 0.5
mg/mL and 1.0 mg/mL for the ethanolic extract, compared to 1.0 mg/mL and 2.0
mg/mL for the aqueous extract. The enhanced efficacy of the ethanolic extract can be
attributed to the solubility of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and
tannins, in ethanol, enabling the extraction of a broader spectrum of antimicrobial
agents. These findings highlight the potential of Urtica dioica as a natural
antimicrobial agent, providing a basis for developing plant-based therapies to manage
bacterial and fungal infections. Further studies are recommended to isolate and
characterize specific bioactive compounds and assess