Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Assay of Selected Plant Extracts with Ethnopharmacological Potential for Wound Healing

Abstract

Bacteria usually colonize wounds, and their low level is beneficial to the wound healing process. Thus, antibacterial agents are usually applied to wounds. In the Philippines, many herbal plants are used to speed up the wound healing process. With their number, literature revealed no scientific study yet on which among these plants could well inhibit wound bacteria. Hence, this study focused on the phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extracts of six herbal plants, namely: Caesalpinia sappan Linn. (Sibukao), Jatropha curcas Linn. (Tuba-tuba), Lantana camara Linn. (Kantutay), Mimosa pudica Linn. (Makahiya), Moringa oleifera Lam. (Malunggay), and Psidium guajava Linn. (Guava). Betadine was used as the positive control. Qualitative phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial assay on wound bacteria using the agar well diffusion method were employed from the six extracts. Results revealed that phytochemicals, namely alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, and tannins, were present in the plant extracts except for anthraquinones. Furthermore, the plant extracts showed antibacterial activity on wound bacteria, and P. guajava leaf extract exhibited the most significant antibacterial effect among the treatments and is greater than the positive control (Betadine solution). On the other hand, all the plant extracts have a lower antibiotic activity index when compared with Amikacin 30mcg and Erythromycin 15 mcg. However, except for Lantana camara extract, the five plant extracts have a remarkably higher antibiotic activity index when compared with Penicillin 10 U. It is concluded that the plants studied have varying levels of antibacterial activities that could promote wound healing.