Evaluation Of Sugarcane Juice As A Natural Antibacterial Agent Against Staphylococcus Aureus From Human Wounds

Abstract

Wound infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection remain a significant public health challenge due to delayed wound healing, prolonged hospitalization, and increasing antimicrobial resistance. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of fresh sugarcane juice (Saccharum officinarum) against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from human wound patients attending selected healthcare facilities in Rumuola, Rivers State, Nigeria. A laboratory-based experimental design was employed involving the collection of wound swab samples, bacterial isolation and identification using standard microbiological techniques, and antibacterial susceptibility testing using the agar well diffusion method. Different concentrations of sugarcane juice were tested against standardized bacterial isolates, while a conventional antibiotic served as the positive control. The results revealed that sugarcane juice exhibited concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The highest inhibition zone was observed at 100% concentration with a mean inhibition diameter of 24mm, whereas lower concentrations produced smaller inhibition zones. Traumatic wounds recorded the highest frequency of Staphylococcus aureus isolates among the wound categories examined. Comparative analysis showed that the standard antibiotic demonstrated greater antibacterial activity with a mean inhibition zone of 31mm. Despite its lower efficacy compared to the antibiotic control, sugarcane juice displayed notable antibacterial properties, suggesting the presence of bioactive phytochemical compounds with therapeutic potential. The study concludes that sugarcane juice may serve as a promising natural source of antimicrobial agents for complementary wound infection management and future pharmaceutical development.