Browsing by Author "Mwakabona, Hezron Timothy"

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Synergistic Effects and Chemical Interactions of Guava and Beetroot Extracts on Staphylococcus aureus
(Sage, 2025-02-28) Mauya, Ester Vicent; Mwakabona, Hezron Timothy
Objective: The rise of bacterial resistance presents significant challenges to the pharmaceutical industry. Researchers have focused on finding ways to counteract microbial resistance, with one approach being the exploration of synergistic effects from combining drugs or natural products. This study investigates the antibacterial effect of combining ethanolic extracts of guava leaves and beetroot against Staphylococcus aureus, and potential chemical interactions between the bioactive compounds. Methods: Using disk diffusion antibiotic sensitivity testing, the study compares the antibacterial activity of individual plant extracts with the combined extract. Additionally, the UV/Vis spectra of the individual and combined extracts were compared to assess chemical interactions. Results: Findings indicate that the combination of guava leaves, and beetroot extracts has a weak synergistic effect against S. aureus, with a Fractional Inhibitory Concentration (FIC) index of 0.25. The UV/Vis spectrum showed decreased absorbance at 245–280 nm and increased absorption at 365–400, 475, and 675 nm, suggesting the conversion of compounds and chemical inter actions between bioactive compounds in the combined extract. Conclusion: The study concludes that combining guava leaves and beetroot extracts results in a weak synergistic antibacterial effect against S. aureus, with bioactive compounds interacting to form derivatives that enhance activity. Further studies are, therefore, recommended to elucidate the mechanisms of these interactions and their effects against S. aureus.