Aristolochia indica and Toddalia asiatica Aqueous and Ethanol Extracts' in vitro Antibacterial Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

Abstract

Bacteria have developed multidrug resistance to modern antimicrobial medications. Through infectious diseases, these multidrug-resistant microorganisms significantly increase human morbidity and mortality. Synthetic drugs not only have unfavorable side effects and are ineffective against bacteria that are resistant to several treatments, but they are also expensive and inadequate for treating ailments. Medicinal plants have the potential to have strong antibacterial qualities because they include phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavanoids, tannins, and phenolic compounds. The purpose of the present study was to determine the antibacterial activity of medicinal plants against pathogens resistant to several medications. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to detect drug-resistant bacteria. The generation of β-lactamases, such as metallo β-lactamase, AmpC β-lactamase, and extended spectrum β-lactamases, was detected using the combination disc approach. The antibacterial activity of the aqueous and ethanol extracts of Toddalia asiatica and Aristolochia indica was assessed using the agar well diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration. Each of the bacteria used in this study shown resistance to three distinct antibiotics. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Vibrio cholerae were shown to produce β-lactamases. Aristolochia indica's ethanol extract shown greater antibacterial activity against drug-resistant pathogens than Toddalia asiatica. Ethanol extracts of Toddalia asiatica and Aristolochia indica showed minimum inhibitory concentration values of 100–200 μg/ml and 50–100 μg/ml, respectively, against multidrug-resistant bacteria. This study suggests that Aristolochia indica has a greater potential to treat drug-resistant bacteria than Toddalia asiatica.