Bitter leaf extracts, particularly from Vernonia Amygdalina, show promising to improve the effectiveness of existing antibiotics, potentially reducing doses and side effects. The research indicates that these extracts have moderate antibacterial properties, especially against gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, which suggests their potential as attachments of conventional antibiotics.
In a new study, the researchers systematically evaluated the antibacterial properties of Vernonia Amygdalina as part of the continuous search for effective and free alternatives of resistance to conventional antibiotics, which is crucial given the growing resistance of antibiotics worldwide.
The study published in the Newport International Journal of Biological and Applied Sciences found that the bitter leaf extract exhibits moderate antibacterial activity, particularly against the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, highlighting its potential as an alternative treatment.
Researchers from the International University of Kampala compared the antibacterial activity of the bitter leaf extract with that of the standard antibiotic, the gentamicin. They also verified the extract components to understand their antibacterial potential.
However, the bitter leaf showed no antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli and could not be compared to the standard antibiotic.
However, they affirmed that the antibacterial activity of the bitter leaf also demonstrates possible synergistic effects when combined with traditional antibiotics, improving their effectiveness against strains resistant to multiple drugs (MDR).
Studies indicate that the use of plant extracts combined with antimicrobials can promote significant reduction in the minimum dose of antibiotics required for effective antimicrobial effects, which is interesting because it can reduce both the risk of side effects and treatment costs.
Studies have demonstrated the greatest efficacy of antibiotics such as gentamycin and chloramphenicol against Staphylococcus aureus, which is a common cause of infections in both humans and animals, when combined with plant extracts.
Salmonellosis is becoming a common disease in underdeveloped nations, and specifically, typhoid fever is a great public health concern due to its high probability of recurrence. Salmonella has become resistant to numerous drugs, which makes it necessary to look for new effective antibacterial substances from alternative sources, including plants.
In a study, the Umaru Musa Yar'adua Katsina University researchers said that Bitter Leaf could be a promising candidate to develop new treatments against the Balonella that can contribute to the management of salmonellosis in underdeveloped nations.
In the Umyu Journal of Microbiology Research, they had investigated the antibacterial activity of the bitter leaf extracts against 10 clinical isolates of Salmonella and found that the extracts of ethanol and water from the bitter leaf had a significant antibacterial effect on these germs.
According to them, the bitter leaf has antibacterial activity against Salmonella and must be more thoroughly investigated for possible application in the development of medications against talmonella and the management of salmonellosis.
The investigation indicates that the combination of bitter leaf extracts with antibiotics such as ampicillin and oxytetracycline produces significant synergistic effects, reducing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) required for bacterial inhibition.
They suggested that bitter leaf extracts can reverse antibiotic resistance mechanisms, such as efflux pumps and reduced membrane permeability, thus increasing the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics.
In addition, these extracts can improve the bioavailability of antibiotics, contributing even more to their effectiveness against resistant bacteria.
They said that this empirical evidence of the antibacterial properties of the bitter leaf supports its traditional use in the treatment of bacterial infections and encourages greater exploration of herbal remedies to develop new antibacterial agents derived from plants and research to optimize their use in clinical environments.
Although the synergistic potential of bitter leaf extracts with antibiotics is promising, more clinical studies are needed to validate these findings and explore their practical applications in the treatment of bacterial infections. This could improve its application in clinical environments and provide a viable alternative to traditional antibiotics.
The bitter leaf has been used for a long time to treat various conditions, such as bacterial infections and persistent skin ulcers. Traditional healers also use bitter leaf extracts to treat bacterial diseases, even when antibiotics have not been effective.
Compared to traditional antibiotics, several traditional herbal extracts have the potential to be natural antibacterial agents with less adverse effects. Turmeric, cactus and linaza are examples of herbal extracts that inhibit MDR bacterial pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella Pneumonia.
These extracts, especially in methanol and aqueous forms, have inhibitory effects on these bacteria that cause diseases, according to data from several investigations. In addition, it emphasized the synergistic benefits that are shown when these herbal extracts are used with traditional antibiotics, which can lead to lower antibiotic recipes.