Evaluation of the antibacterial effects of tannins extracted from Dichrostachys cinerea

Abstract

Background: For an extensive duration, indigenous and therapeutic plants have demonstrated their essentiality in promoting human health. Dichrostachys cinerea is a botanical species that has been historically employed in African and Indian traditional medicine for the therapeutic management of diverse human ailments.

Material and Methods: The plant's root was obtained from the authorized vendor. The plant underwent proper authentication by a laboratory that is officially recognized by the government, confirming its classification as Dichrotachys cinerea.

Results: Tannins, which are compounds with pharmacological significance, were extracted from Dichrostachys cinerea and subjected to analysis against several bacterial strains including Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella boydii, Shigella flexneri, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The agar diffusion method was employed for the assessment of their antimicrobial activity. The tannins shown antibacterial properties against all of the microbes tested. Shigella flexneri exhibited the highest level of resistance to tannins derived from the plant material, followed by Shigella boydii, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in descending order.

Conclusion: The investigation demonstrated that the tannins exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 4.1 to 5.3 mg/ml, and a minimum bactericidal concentration ranging from 4.6 to 6.1 mg/ml.