Antimicrobial Activity Of Gongronema Latifolium (Utazi) Leaves Sold In Elele Against Selected Pathogenic Microorganisms

Abstract

The increasing emergence of antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic microorganisms has intensified the search for alternative antimicrobial agents from medicinal plants. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of Gongronema latifolium (Utazi) leaves sold in Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria, against selected pathogenic microorganisms. Fresh leaves of Gongronema latifolium were collected from Elele Market and processed using ethanol and aqueous extraction methods. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella species using the agar well diffusion technique, while the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined using the broth dilution method. Phytochemical screening of the plant extracts was also carried out using standard laboratory procedures. The results revealed that both ethanol and aqueous extracts possessed antimicrobial activity against all tested organisms, although the ethanol extract demonstrated significantly higher inhibitory effects. Staphylococcus aureus showed the highest susceptibility with an inhibition zone of 22.1 ± 0.4 mm for the ethanol extract, whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited the least susceptibility. The MIC results further confirmed the stronger antimicrobial potency of the ethanol extract, with the lowest MIC value of 12.5 mg/mL recorded against Staphylococcus aureus. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, which are known for their antimicrobial properties. The study concluded that Gongronema latifolium leaves sold in Elele possess appreciable antimicrobial activity against selected pathogenic microorganisms and may serve as a potential source of natural antimicrobial agents for therapeutic and pharmaceutical applications.