PAN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES
e-ISSN: 2672-5924
Volume 9, No. 1, April 2025
Pages 359-368
DOI: 10.36108/pajols/5202/90.0180
Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Potency of Ocimum gratissimum L. and Crassocephalum rubens Leaf Extracts: Synthesis, and Characterization of Topical Creams Incorporating the Extracts
Nwamaka H. Igbokwe1*, Abel O. Idowu1, Onyinye C. Obi1, Chijioke E. Ezeobiora1, Bukola A. Oseni2, Bryan C. Okwuba2, Chibundom O. Igbokwe2.
1Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
2Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, La-gos, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Despite the numerous existing antimicrobial agents available today, the necessity for developing new antimi-crobial therapies has increased significantly due to growing concerns regarding multidrug-resistant microbial strains. This study analyzed the antimicrobial activity of the ethanol leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum L. and Crassocephalum rubens (Juss. Ex Jacq.) S. Moore and their herbal cream formulations
Method: The leaves were extracted using the cold maceration method, and the herbal cream was formulated using different concentrations of the extracts. The agar well diffusion method was used to assess the antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extracts of the leaves and the herbal cream formulations containing the extracts. MIC was also determined by the agar dilu-tion method
Results: The Ocimum gratissimum extract and its herbal cream formulation had concentration-dependent antimicrobial activ-ities and were most potent against Staphylococcus aureus, with the least susceptible being Enterococcus faecalis. The extract and the cream also inhibited some fungal organisms: Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The ethanol extracts of the Crassocephalum rubens and the mixture of both extracts did not show any antimicrobial activity and hence, were not used for herbal cream formulation.
Conclusion: Ocimum gratissimum L. and Crassocephalum rubens have been used in traditional medicine for their potential health benefits, and understanding their antimicrobial activity sheds light on their therapeutic applications. Ethanol extract of Ocimum gratissimum showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) activity against common skin path-ogens.
Keywords: Ocimum gratisimum, Crassocephalum rubens, pathogens, susceptibility, maceration.