Evaluation of Conocarpus erectus against multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Cell to animal study

Antibiotic resistant infections by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in high risk patients is critical challenge for all clinicians across globe. In an effort to achieve robust bactericidal effect, therapeutic approach based on antimicrobial plant extract of Conocarpus erectus (C. erectus) been assessed in-vitro and in-vivo against S. aureus resistant clinical strains isolated from burn patients and antibiotic susceptibility was conducted using Kirby-baur disc diffusion technique. C. erectus plant extract obtained and characterized for phytochemical constituents, its hemocompatibility and for antioxidant potential. Minimum inhibitory concentration studied for C. erectus extract against multidrug resistance (MDR) S. aureus clinical isolates in-vitro and in rat's sepsis model. Therapeutic activity along acute toxicity was evaluated in rat's model. C. erectus extract showed marked antioxidant activity attributed to its phenolic components predominately along others. Hemocompatibility results were significantly different (p<0.05) compared to vancomycin (positive control). Statistically significant reduction in bacterial colony count (p<0.05) observed in rat's sepsis model with C. erectus treated group vs. controls. C. erectus extract offered higher bactericidal effect both in-vitro and in-vivo along no acute toxicity at therapeutic dose. We infer that it can serve as alternative promising treatment option against antibiotic resistant against MDR S. aureus strains.