Antibacterial Activity of Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi) Plant Extracts against Urinary Pathogens

Amal Naif Alshammari ^1*

Sidr plant extracts showed promising antibacterial activity against urinary pathogens as potential alternative of UTI treatments.

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common bacterial infections in children, with Escherichia coli being a primary causative agent. Traditional remedies like the Sidr plant have gained popularity due to their therapeutic properties, including antibacterial effects. Methods: Sidr leaves were collected, dried, and powdered. A cold aqueous extract was prepared by dissolving the powder in distilled water, and an alcoholic extract was made using ethyl alcohol. Chemical analysis was conducted to identify active ingredients. The antibacterial activity of both extracts was evaluated against bacterial isolates using agar well diffusion method. Results and Discussion: Chemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, and other compounds in the Sidr plant. Both aqueous and alcoholic extracts showed antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial isolates. Increasing concentrations of the extracts correlated with increased inhibition of bacterial growth, with the alcoholic extract exhibiting a maximal inhibitory effect at 200 mg/ml. Conclusion: The antibacterial activity of Sidr plant extracts is attributed to their impact on bacterial cell activity and membrane permeability, likely due to the presence of phenolic compounds. These findings support the potential use of Sidr plant extracts as alternative or adjunct therapies for UTIs.

Keywords: Zizyphusspin-csiti, Urinary tract infections, Sidr plant, Antibacterial activity, Herbal remedies, Microbial susceptibility.

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