IN-VITRO STUDY OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTY FROM THE HYDROETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SPERMACOCE OCYMOIDES BURM (RUBIACEAE) PLANT ON ISOLATES OF MICROBIAL STRAINS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPETIGO IN INFANTS

Theophile Mistral Mpaba Minkat*, Anne-Cécile Zoung-Kanyi Bissek, Marcellin Ndoe Guiaro*, Ericson Djeutassong Segning, Georges Cédric Mouncharou, Grace Nkoro, Joseph Ngoupayo and Hortense Gonsu

ABSTRACT

The pursuit of safe and effective therapeutic alternatives for treating impetigo in infants remains a persistent focus in pharmaceutical research. This study explores the in-vitro antibacterial activity of Spermacoce ocymoides Burm (Rubiaceae) against microbial strains associated with infantile impetigo. The methodology encompassed phytochemical screening to identify secondary metabolites, solid medium diffusion sensitivity tests, and determination of inhibition parameters through macro dilution in a liquid medium, along with subculture on solid agar. Oxacillin served as the reference antibiotic. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, and phlobatannins), sterols, anthocyanins, saponins, and terpenoids, while alkaloids were absent. Staphylococcus aureus was the sole identified pathogen in our isolates. Antibacterial assays demonstrated the efficacy of our extract against Staphylococcus aureus. Gradual concentration sensitivity assays at 500 mg/mL, 250 mg/mL, 125 mg/mL, and 62.5 mg/mL produced average inhibition zone diameters of 15 ± 0.71 mm, 7 ± 0.71 mm, 4 ± 0.71 mm, and 3 ± 0.71 mm, respectively. These values were lower than the 20 mm diameter of oxacillin at 5 μg/mL. Inhibition parameter determination yielded a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 1.95 mg/mL and a Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of 3.9 mg/mL, with an MBC/MIC ratio of 2, affirming the bactericidal effect of Spermacoce ocymoides Burm on Staphylococcus aureus isolates from impetigo pustules in infants. This research highlights the potential of Spermacoce ocymoides Burm as a promising antibacterial agent for impetigo treatment, laying the groundwork for further exploration and pharmaceutical development.

Keywords: Spermacoce ocymoides, Infant, Impetigo, Staphylococcus aureus.