Unraveling the Efficacy of Traditional Herbal Remedies Against Multi-Drug Resistant Bacterial Infections: A Comprehensive Study of Pathological Impact, Microbial Resistance Mechanisms, Clinical Relevance, and Biochemical Pathways

Abstract

Background: The increase of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections worldwide is a serious health concern that calls for the investigation of other therapeutic modalities. Because of their possible antibacterial qualities, traditional herbal medicines have been used for ages; yet, little is known about how effective they are against MDR infections.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various traditional herbal remedies against MDR bacterial infections by assessing their antimicrobial activity, resistance mechanisms, and clinical relevance.

Methodology: A cross-sectional, laboratory-based investigation was conducted from January 2023 to December 2023. involving 230 bacterial isolates from clinical specimens. In addition to phytochemical investigation to discover bioactive components, 10 popular herbal treatments were subjected to the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) tests. The efficacy of these treatments was compared among bacterial strains using chi-square and t-tests.

Results: According to the research, herbal treatments including Adhatoda vasica, Curcuma longa, and Moringa oleifera have strong antibacterial action against MDR pathogens, especially Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Statistically significant differences in their effectiveness were verified by chi-square and t-tests, with p-values < 0.01. Adhatoda vasica had considerable activity against E. coli (95%) and K. Pneumoniae (85%), whereas Moringa oleifera was most effective against E. coli (100%) and S. aureus (90%).

Conclusion: Traditional herbal remedies, particularly Moringa oleifera and Curcuma longa, exhibit significant antibacterial potential against MDR pathogens, offering potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics.