Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Safety Assessment of <I>Alchornea Cordifolia</I> (Schumach. and Thonn.) Mull. Arg. Leaf Extracts on <I>Salmonella typhimurium</I> Induced Gastroenteritis in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Gastroenteric infections are a significant global health burden. This study evaluated the antibacterial, antioxidant, and safety of Alchornea cordifolia leaf extracts in Wistar rats with Salmonella typhimurium-induced gastroenteritis. Thirty female rats were randomly grouped into treatments in A-F. The A-E animals were infected with S. Typhimurium, except for the negative control group (F). Animals in A-C were administered 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg body weight of the extract, respectively. Group D received 500 mg/kg body weight of ciprofloxacin (standard drug), whereas group E (positive control) was infected but not treated. The rats were euthanized at 5 and 7 days for antibacterial and safety assessment studies, respectively. Serum, liver, stomach, and intestinal samples were collected for biochemical assays. Compared with the positive control, the extract considerably decreased the faecal microbial burden (p<0.05). The globulin levels of the animals that received the extract were considerably greater (p<0.05) than those of the animals that received ciprofloxacin. Compared with the animals in the antibiotic and negative groups, those in the extract-treated groups presented reduced urea and creatinine levels. The MDA levels and SOD and catalase activities were considerably lower in the treatment groups than in the control group. Compared with those of ciprofloxacin (-5.9 kcal/mol), the drug binding affinities ranged from -6.1 to -7.8 kcal/mol. Bacterial protease inhibition and the antioxidant properties of the plant's bioactive ingredients may be the causes of the antibacterial action of the extract.