Antibacterial and phytochemical evaluations of Alternanthera repens (L.) and honey on Pseudomonas aeruginosa of clinical origin

Context Medicinal plants have long been used as a source of therapeutic agents worldwide, and herbal medicines have increasingly been employed in the treatment of diseases. Alternanthera repens is one of the underexploited plant species for its antimicrobial potentials. Aims This study aimed at investigating the antibacterial efficacy of the leaf and stem ethanolic extracts of A. repens and honey against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Materials and methods The phytochemical analyses were performed on ethanolic plant extracts using the universal laboratory techniques for qualitative and quantitative determination. The agar-well diffusion method was used for the in-vitro antibacterial bioassay. The antibacterial activities of the honeys, ethanolic leaf and stem extracts, and antibiotics were compared. The minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations of the honeys and extracts were determined. Statistical analysis used The students' t-test was employed to determine the significant differences between the phytochemical constituents in the extracts and also the antibacterial activities of the ethanolic leaf and stem extracts against P. aeruginosa. Results Phytochemical screening showed the presence of total phenols, saponins, tannins, total flavonoids, alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, phytate, and terpenoids in the plant extracts. The extracts and honeys were able to inhibit the growth of the P. aeruginosa at varying concentrations (25, 50, 75, and 100%). The combinations of the honeys and ethanolic extracts of the plant parts exerted significantly higher antibacterial effects on P. aeruginosa. Conclusion The ethanolic extracts of A. repens possessed antibacterial properties against P. aeruginosa, which was more pronounced in combination with honey. The presence of various phytochemicals in the plant indicated its high potential for possible drug production.