ANTIBACTERIAL

Urinary tract pathogens are increasingly resistant to conventional antibiotics, prompting interest in plant-derived bioactive agents. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile and antibacterial potential of Cinnamomum tamala bark extracts against selected clinical isolates. Dried bark samples were subjected to aqueous and ethanolic extraction, followed by phytochemical screening using GC–MS analysis. Antimicrobial activity was carried out using ditch plate and agar well diffusion methods, while minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were determined via agar dilution techniques. The ethanolic extract demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition, with zones of inhibition ranging from 8.25 ± 4.8 mm at 50 µg/mL to 21.75 ± 2.93 mm at 800 µg/mL, showing significant differences across concentrations (p = 0.034). The aqueous extract exhibited no effect at low concentrations but was active at higher concentration, producing inhibition zones up to 6.50 ± 3.77 mm, significantly different across groups (p < 0.001). MIC results indicated stronger activity for the ethanolic extract, particularly against E. coli (12.5 µg/mL), compared to the aqueous extract, which required higher concentrations (100–200 µg/mL) across organisms. Similarly, ethanolic MBC values ranged between 25–100 µg/mL, significantly lower than the consistent 200 µg/mL required for the aqueous extract. Phytochemical screening revealed alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and phenols in both extracts, while saponins and glycosides were exclusive to the aqueous extract, and steroids and resins were unique to the ethanolic extract. GC–MS analysis identified major constituents including Squalene (21.13%), 9- Octadecenoic acid (17.62%), and 13-Octadecenal (16.89%) in the ethanolic extract, while the aqueous extract was dominated by 9-Borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (28.24%) and Cyclopropane derivatives (17.04%). These findings highlight the potent antibacterial efficacy of C. tamala ethanolic extract, particularly against E. coli, with activity linked to its terpenoid and fatty acid constituents. The results suggest that C. tamala may serve as a promising source of natural antimicrobials.

Clays have been utilized for centuries across various cultures for their therapeutic and medicinal properties, ranging from wound healing to antibacterial applications, owing to their adsorptive and chemical properties that inhibit pathogens and support tissue regeneration. This study was aimed at investigating the physicochemical and antibacterial properties of Okpepe clay, Uzala black clay and the combined effect of both clays on clinical isolates against some clinical isolates. Clay samples were processed into suspensions, physicochemical analysis was carried out to determine the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), heavy metal content and organic carbon. Uzala black clay had a higher pH (7.85), CEC (25.90 cmol/kg), and organic matter (2.80 %), while OKC was more acidic (pH 6.12) with higher EC and TDS. Antibacterial activity was tested against some clinical isolates such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus spp. using agar well diffusion at concentrations of 100 %, 75 %, 50 % and 25 %. Uzala black clay demonstrated superior antibacterial activity with larger zones of inhibition and lower MIC values (6.25 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus) compared to Okpekpe clay. Uzala black clay was bactericidal (MBC/MIC ≤ 2) against all isolates, while Okpekpe clay was often bacteriostatic. The clay combination (1:1) showed a remarkable synergistic effect, particularly at 75 % concentration, producing the largest zones of inhibition (42 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Uzala Black Clay is a potent, broad-spectrum bactericidal agent. The combination with Okpekpe Clay results in a significant synergistic enhancement of antibacterial efficacy. Its efficacy against clinical isolates, including those resistant to common antibiotics, highlights its potential as a source for developing new antimicrobial strategies against drug-resistant bacteria and its novel antimicrobial strategies

Introduction: Antiaris toxicaria is a plant found in tropical Africa, among other tropical regions, non-scientifical used of this plant include; for hunting, neurological complaints, skin infections, gastrointestinal complaints. So this incite the need for chemical characterisation and laboratory evaluation of the ethanolic bark fraction. This study profiles its phytochemicals, and antibacterial.
Method: The bark parts were collected, pulverized and extracted with 70% ethanol from which the ethanolic fraction were obtained and analyzed by HPLC and GC-MS to identify non-volatile and volatile constituents found in the plant. Antibacterial activity was carried out against six clinical isolates (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus) was assessed by Inhibitory Zone Diameter (IZD), Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC).
Results: Chromatographic and spectrometric analyses revealed the presence of major constituents such as (Ephedrine),(Proanthocyanin compound ) and (Amphyllidine compound ) with (Ephedrine) occurring at the highest concentration (17.81 µg/Ml) for HPLC, while for GC-MS, constituents such as (n-Hexadecanoic acid), (d-Glucohexodialdose) and (2-Furanmethanol, 5-ethenyltetrahydro-.alpha.,.alpha.,5-trimethyl-,cis-) with n-Hexadecanoic as the highest occurring (15.07 %). The extract produced moderate inhibition zones (14–20 mm) against the six clinical isolates. The findings of this study revealed that the 70% ethanolic extract of Antiaris toxicaria possesses measurable antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms, particularly to Gram positive bacteria than that of Gram negative with MBC/MIC ratio to be ≥ 4 for S. aureus, E. cloacae, E. coli, B. cereus depicting bacteriostatic and ≤ 4 for P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis depicting bactericidal.
Conclusion: Th ethanolic bark exract of Antiaris toxicaria contains a complex mixture of alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins constituents that together reveals measurable antibacterial effect