article · Scientific Reports
This research investigates the antibacterial properties and chemical constituents of Calpurnia aurea leaves, a plant used traditionally in Ethiopia to manage skin infections. Researchers evaluated crude and solvent-fractionated extracts against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains using agar diffusion and microtiter broth dilution methods. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and especially high levels of tannins. The crude extract at 75 mg/ml matched the antibacterial performance of the reference antibiotic gentamicin at 0.1 mg/ml. Fractionation further improved antibacterial efficacy, with non-polar petroleum ether fractions demonstrating the highest inhibition across all tested strains. Crude ethanol extracts inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus at minimum concentrations of 2.5 mg/ml. These findings offer scientific evidence supporting the traditional medicinal application of Calpurnia aurea leaves for treating bacterial skin conditions.
Bacterial skin infections present ongoing treatment challenges, particularly as antimicrobial resistance rises. Demonstrating that traditional plant remedies possess measurable antibacterial properties against common pathogens validates local healthcare practices. It also identifies natural sources of active chemical compounds that could inform future therapeutic treatments for stubborn bacterial infections such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
This study provides early-stage laboratory evidence for developing plant-derived topical antibacterial treatments targeting bacterial skin infections. The findings may interest pharmaceutical or natural product developers seeking alternatives to conventional antibiotics. However, the research remains at an early in vitro phase, requiring active compound isolation, formulation, safety evaluation, and clinical testing before any commercial healthcare products can be realised.
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Local Ethiopians use Calpurnia aurea to treat skin infections. However, there is no adequate scientific confirmation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activities of the crude and the fractionated extracts of C. aurea leaves against different bacterial strains. The crude extract was made by maceration. The Soxhlet extraction method was used to obtain fractional extracts. The antibacterial activity against gram positive and gram negative American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strains was performed using the agar diffusion technique. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined through the microtiter broth dilution method. Preliminary phytochemical screening was done using standard techniques. The largest yield was obtained from ethanol fractional extract. Except for chloroform, which provided a relatively low yield when compared to petroleum ether, increasing the polarity of the extracting solvent improved the yield. The crude extract, solvent fractions, and the positive control showed inhibitory zone diameter, while the negative control did not. When used at a concentration of 75 mg/ml, the crude extract had similar antibacterial effects as gentamicin (0.1 mg/ml) and the ethanol fraction. The 2.5 mg/ml crude ethanol extract of C. aurea suppressed the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus, according to the MIC values. The extract of C. aurea was more effective in inhibiting P. aeruginosa than the other gram-negative bacteria. Fractionation enhanced the antibacterial effect of the extract. All fractionated extracts showed the highest inhibition zone diameter against S. aureus. Petroleum ether extract had the greatest inhibition zone diameter against all bacterial strains. The non-polar components were more active compared to the more polar fractions. The phytochemical components discovered in the leaves of C. aurea included alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. Among these, the tannin content was remarkably high. The current results could provide a rational support for the traditional use of C. aurea to treat skin infections.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36837-3
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