This study investigates the antimicrobial potential of Artocarpus hirsutus leaf extracts against antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates of human pathogens. Nosocomial infection is a growing global health concern, necessitating the exploration of alternative treatments. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections but in recent years, clinical strains of bacteria show antibiotic resistance. A. hirsutus, traditionally used for treating infections, was evaluated for its antibacterial properties. Leaf extracts were prepared using hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol, tested against pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus sp, Klebsiella sp, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp, and Enterobacter sp. The ethanol extract demonstrated significant broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, with inhibition zones ranging from 9.33±1.15 mm against S. aureus to 16.33±1.15 mm against E. coli. Phytochemical screening and GC-MS analysis identified various bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, which likely contribute to the observed antimicrobial effects. FTIR analysis further confirmed the presence of functional groups associated with antimicrobial activity. Toxicity studies using Zebra fish indicated a favourable safety profile for the extracts, with LC50 values of 438.25 ppm for ethyl acetate and 426.53 ppm for ethanol extracts. These findings suggest that A. hirsutus could serve as a promising source for developing new antimicrobial agents to combat resistant bacterial strains. Future research focused on isolating active compounds and exploring synergistic effects with conventional antibiotics.
R. et al. (Thu,) studied this question.