Methanolic plant extracts: emerging biotherapeutic alternatives for animal wound infection control

Wound infections caused by bacterial pathogens remain a major health concern, often delaying tissue repair and increasing morbidity. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of methanolic leaf extracts from Aloe vera, Lawsonia inermis, Azadirachta indica, Curcuma longa, and Achyranthes aspera as potential natural alternatives for managing wound-associated infections. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, saponins, and steroids in all extracts, with L. inermis and C. longa showing particularly high levels of phenolics, tannins, and flavonoids, while A. Indica exhibited abundant alkaloids and saponins. From 123 wound samples, six bacterial species were isolated: Staphylococcus aureus (38; 30.9%), Streptococcus agalactiae (17; 13.8%), Proteus mirabilis (22; 17.9%), Escherichia coli (18; 14.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15; 12.2%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (13; 10.6%). Antibacterial activity assessed using the agar well diffusion method showed that A. indica produced the highest inhibition zones (12.5 ± 0.5 mm to 20.4 ± 0.9 mm), followed by C. longa (11.6 ± 0.5 mm to 19.2 ± 0.7 mm). The positive control, ciprofloxacin (10 μg), exhibited inhibition zones ranging from 20.8 ± 0.5 mm to 26.1 ± 0.4 mm, whereas the negative control (10% DMSO) produced no inhibition. The observed antibacterial activity is likely due to the synergistic effects of bioactive phytochemicals, which disrupt bacterial cell membranes and inhibit bacterial growth. These findings indicate that A. indica and C. longa possess strong antibacterial potential and may serve as promising natural agents for managing wound infections caused by clinically relevant pathogens. Further in vivo and toxicity studies are recommended to validate their therapeutic applicability.