September 09, 2025 | Plos one |
The study conducted by the University of Buea, Cameroon, investigated the potential of plant-derived extracts to address the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria. With increasing treatment failures caused by multidrug-resistant strains, there is a need for alternative or complementary antimicrobial strategies based on natural products.
This study evaluated methanolic extracts from two edible plants, Nephelium lappaceum and Hyphaene thebaica, for their antibacterial activity against priority pathogens, including multidrug-resistant and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Escherichia coli. Antibacterial efficacy was assessed using a microplate dilution method, and potential mechanisms of action were examined through analyses of cell membrane integrity and H+-ATPase-mediated proton pumping. Phytochemical screening identified tannins, phenols, and saponins in all extracts.
The results showed that N. lappaceum bark, leaf, and peel extracts were active against all tested multidrug-resistant bacteria, with leaf extracts showing the strongest activity and bactericidal effects. Both plant extracts also enhanced the efficacy of several conventional antibiotics, leading to marked reductions in minimum inhibitory concentrations without antagonistic effects. These findings indicate that N. lappaceum and H. thebaica extracts have potential as antibacterial agents and as adjuvants to restore or enhance antibiotic effectiveness.
