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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major global health threat, causing over a million deaths annually and reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics. This highlights the need for alternative treatments. Ethnomedicinal plants like Piper guineense and Aframomum melegueta, traditionally used for infections and wounds.This investigates explores their antibacterial and biofilm-inhibitory potential as candidates against drug-resistant pathogens.
Ethanolic, aqueous, methanolic, petroleum ether, and ethyl acetate extracts of Piper guineense and Aframomum melegueta were prepared via 48-hour cold maceration. The antibacterial properties and biofilm inhibition potential of these extracts were assessed using the High Throughput Spot Culture Growth Inhibition Assay and the Crystal Violet Stain Retention Method respectively.
The plant extracts showed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) between 250-500 µg/ml. Petroleum ether and methanolic extracts of Piper guineense were the most potent, with MICs of 250 µg/mL against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Both P. guineense and Aframomum melegueta extracts markedly reduced biofilm formation in all tested bacteria (K. pneumoniae, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Mycobacterium smegmatis). For P. guineense, maximal inhibition occurred at 250 µg/ml, with the aqueous extract achieving 97% inhibition against K. pneumoniae. Likewise, A. melegueta extracts were most active at 250 µg/ml, with the aqueous extract reaching 96% inhibition against S. aureus.
This study highlights Piper guineense and Aframomum melegueta as promising sources of novel antibacterial agents and adjuvants that can modulate resistance mechanisms and enhance the effectiveness of existing antibiotics.
Keywords: Piper guineense, Aframomum melegueta, Antibacterial activity, Biofilm, Modulation.