What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to investigate how antibiotic-induced dysbiosis affects colonization by Staphylococcus aureus and how Nigerian medicinal plants could mitigate these effects.

February 14, 2026Open Access

Investigating Dysbiosis‐Driven Colonization by Staphylococcus aureus and the Mitigative Potential of Medicinal Plants in Diabetes‐Linked Inflammation

Key Points

The research aims to investigate how antibiotic-induced dysbiosis affects colonization by Staphylococcus aureus and how Nigerian medicinal plants could mitigate these effects.
Thirty rats were randomized into seven treatment groups.
The physiological impact of dysbiosis and S. aureus was assessed through body weight and blood glucose tracking.
Histological examinations of colon, liver, and spleen tissues were conducted.
Plant extracts and metformin were tested for their effects on metabolic disturbances.
Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA, with molecular identification through 16S rDNA sequencing.
Dysbiosis and S. aureus infection disrupted glycemic control and caused significant weight loss.
Vernonia amygdalina significantly improved glucose levels and stabilized weight, whereas other plants showed modest benefits.
Metformin maintained its hypoglycemic effect, with blood glucose levels within the normal range for rats.
Histological analysis revealed significant lesions and inflammatory changes in treated rats.
Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of Staphylococcus spp. closely related to S. aureus.

Abstract

Objective Antibiotic‐induced dysbiosis predisposes hosts to colonization by opportunists such as Staphylococcus aureus, with downstream metabolic and inflammatory consequences. This study evaluated the physiological impact of dysbiosis and S. aureus challenge in rats and tested three Nigerian medicinal plants, Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter Leaf), Hunteria umbellata (Abeere Seed), and Mangifera indica (Mango Leaf), against a metformin control. Methods Thirty rats were randomized into seven groups (control, dysbiosis, dysbiosis + S. aureus no treatment; dysbiosis + S. aureus plus each plant extract; dysbiosis + S. aureus + metformin). Body weight and blood glucose levels were tracked across key time points; the colon, liver, and spleen were examined histologically. Extract chemistry was characterized by UV‐vis and FTIR spectroscopy. 16S rDNA was carried out for molecular confirmation. Statistics included ANOVA. Results Dysbiosis and infection perturbed glycemia, destabilized weight, and produced histopathological lesions (mucosal disruption, inflammatory cell infiltrates, hepatocellular changes). V. amygdalina most consistently improved glucose trends and weight stabilization, while M. indica and H. umbellata showed moderate benefits; metformin retained hypoglycemic activity with values within the physiological fasting range for rats (79. 2–100. 8 mg/dL). Spectroscopy revealed abundant hydroxyl, aromatic, and ester groups consistent with bioactive polyphenols. For molecular confirmation, 16S rDNA (1. 5 kb) from two isolates produced BLAST identities of 89. 62% (1495 bp) and 92. 65% (1519 bp) to S. aureus (NR₀37007. 2). Neighbor‐Joining (Kimura‐2‐parameter, 1, 000 bootstraps) phylogeny rooted with S. epidermidis placed both isolates within the S. aureus clade, albeit below species‐level identity thresholds, indicating Staphylococcus sp. is closely related to S. aureus. ANOVA results showed post hoc tests (weight: p < 0. 001, R 2 = 0. 232; glucose: p = 0. 031, R 2 = 0. 136). Conclusion These findings validate V. amygdalina as a promising adjunct for dysbiosis‐associated metabolic disturbance and highlight the potential of Nigerian botanicals in microbiota‐informed therapy. Further dose–response work and higher‐resolution genomics are warranted.

Investigating Dysbiosis‐Driven Colonization by Staphylococcus aureus and the Mitigative Potential of Medicinal Plants in Diabetes‐Linked Inflammation

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