PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL TESTING OF THE HERBAL EXTRACT MIXTURE IN MDR PATHOGENS IN THROAT SWAB SAMPLES

Abstract

Phytochemical screening is a method to identify the presence of specific compounds in herbal extract mixture, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids, among others. The characterization of these extracts is important in understanding the potential health benefits and potential toxicity of these compounds. Antimicrobial testing is the evaluation of the ability of an herbal extract mixture to inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as MDR (multi-drug resistant) pathogens. The throat swab is a commonly used sample in microbiology to diagnose infections in the upper respiratory tract. The objectives of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activities of methanolic extract of 7 plant species are Trachyspermum ammi, Plectranthus Amboinicus, Piper betle, Alpinia glanga, Piper longum, Piper nigrum, Ocimum tenuiflorum commonly used in traditional medicines to treat the sore throat and nosocomial infection. The methanolic extract was used to investigate its invitro antibacterial and antimicrobial activity. The isolated bacteria were also subjected to characterize their pathogenicity and antibiotic sensitivity. The results of the phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids in the herbal extract mixture. These compounds have been shown to have various antimicrobial properties, making the herbal extract mixture a potential alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of MDR pathogens in the throat. The antimicrobial testing of the herbal extract mixture was conducted using the broth microdilution method, a commonly used method to test the antimicrobial activity of substances. The results showed that the herbal extract mixture had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of MDR pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. It was also observed that the herbal extract mixture had a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) compared to commonly used antibiotics, indicating a higher potency and potential to effectively control MDR pathogens in the throat. In conclusion, the phytochemical screening and antimicrobial testing of the herbal extract mixture in MDR pathogens in throat swab samples showed that the herbal extract mixture has the potential to be a promising alternative to antibiotics in controlling MDR infections. Further studies, such as toxicity and efficacy testing, should be conducted to fully evaluate the potential of this herbal extract mixture as a natural remedy for MDR infections.