The In vitro Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Cassia, Neem, and Fig Leaf Extracts Against Biofilm-Producing Staphylococcus aureus and Candida Species from Outpatients, Oyo Town, Nigeria

Abstract

Biofilm-related infections are difficult to treat due to limited effective management options, posing a significant clinical problem. Eradicating biofilm with antibiotics alone is challenging, highlighting the need for alternative treatments, such as plant extracts. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of leaf extracts from Cassia, Neem, and Fig against biofilm-producing strains of Candida spp. and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from outpatients with high vaginal swabs (HVS) in Oyo Town, Southwest Nigeria. Isolation of Candida spp. and Staphylococcus aureus was done on Saboraud Dextrose Agar and Mannitol Salt Agar respectively. Candida spp. were identified and characterized using Chrom agar, germ-tube test, and Gram staining while biochemical and coagulase test was used to identify Staphylococcus aureus. Biofilm (tube test and Congo red agar) and antimicrobial assay using agar well diffusion was done on the isolates. Thirty-six (36) Candida spp. (55.56% C. albicans, 21.67% C. krusei, and 2.27% C. glabrata) and thirty-five (35) Gram-positive bacteria (45% S. aureus, 58.3% S. epidermidis and 43.1% Streptococcus spp.) were isolated. Thirty-one (86.11%) Candida spp. and twenty-six (74.29%) S. aureus isolates were positive for both Congo red and test tube tests. Ethanol extract of Cassia had the highest antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus while Candida spp. were only sensitive to ethanol extracts of the three plants. This study recommends that further studies should be carried out to discover the active components of Cassia, Neem, and Fig which can be harnessed for their potential to successfully treat infections caused by biofilm-forming organisms.