HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA

The rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) highlights the urgent need for alternative antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill kinetics of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces against multidrug resistant UPEC isolates before and after plasmid curing. Antibacterial activity was determined using agar well diffusion, MIC and MBC by broth dilution, and time-kill assays by plate count method. The ethanol extract consistently showed stronger antibacterial activity than the aqueous extract, with lower MIC and MBC values and faster bacterial elimination in time-kill assays. Plasmid curing enhanced the susceptibility of UPEC to both extracts. Conclusively, Hibiscus sabdariffa, particularly the ethanol extract, demonstrated promising antibacterial potential against MDR UPEC, warranting further studies on dosage, and safety.