Evaluation of Antibacterial Properties of Piliostigma reticulatum leaves

Abstract

Piliostigma reticulatum is known for its extensive traditional applications, such as managing diarrhea in teething infants, treating wounds and ulcers, combating parasitic infections, stopping bleeding, and alleviating inflammation and bacterial conditions. It is also used in the treatment of gonorrhea, stomach pain, headaches, malaria, dysentery, fever, respiratory disorders, snakebites, hookworm infestations, and various skin infections. This study was conducted to assess the chemomicroscopic and antibacterial effects of Piliostigma reticulatum leaf extracts. Chemomicroscopic analysis of the powdered leaf material identified the presence of cellulose, tannins, starch, lignin, suberin, aleurone grains, and mucilage, while calcium carbonate, calcium oxalate, and inulin were not observed. Standardized procedures were employed to perform antibacterial evaluations. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus were 15.625 mg/mL and 31.25 mg/mL, respectively.