Joy Abigail AGBOR

Polyherbal formulations have long been utilized in traditional medicine for their synergistic therapeutic benefits. This study evaluated the comparative antimicrobial activities of Macedar a polyherbal formulation composed of Carica papaya leaves, Veronica amygdalina leaves, and Croton hirtus leaves and Carica papaya leaves alone. Methanol extracts were prepared using cold maceration and tested against selected Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria through agar well diffusion at varying concentrations (62.5–500 mg/ml). The results revealed that both extracts exhibited significant, dose-dependent antibacterial activity, with Macedar demonstrating stronger inhibitory effects across all test organisms. The highest inhibition zones were observed at 500 mg/ml, with Staphylococcus aureus showing the greatest susceptibility. These findings indicate that the synergistic interaction of the three plants in Macedar enhances antimicrobial potency beyond that of single-plant extracts. The study provides scientific validation for the ethno medicinal use of these plants and highlights the potential of polyherbal formulations Macedar as effective alternatives in combating resistant bacterial infections.