P.O OBARO

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.

Ocimum gratissimum essential oil comes from the plant, commonly called African basil or Clove basil. It is indigenous to mainly Africa. However, they have been found in other tropical and subtropical parts of the world, like Southern Asia and America (Ezeorba et al., 2024). The African basil is a perennial herb. It is woody at the base with an average height of 1–3 m, many branches, broad leaves and narrow ovate. It is a plant propagated through seed planting and stem cutting and is well-known for its aromatic nature, hence its name, “scent leaf” in Nigeria and some West African countries (Ezeorba et al., 2024). Ocimum gratissimum is known by various names in different parts of the world. In India it is known by its several vernacular names, the most commonly used ones being Vriddhutulsi
(Sanskrit), Ram tulsi (Hindi), Nimma tulasi (Kannada). In the southern part of Nigeria, the plant is called “effinrin-nla” by the Yoruba speaking tribe. It is called “Ahuji” by the Igbos, while in the Northern part of Nigeria, the Hausas call it “Daidoya” (Prabhu et al., 2009).