In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Herbal Beverage Extracts From Cinnamon, Clove, and Thyme and Their Interactive Antimicrobial Profile With Selected Antibiotics Against Drug-Resistant Clinical Pathogens

The increase in antibiotic resistance has increased the demand for new and safe therapeutic options. Herbal beverages, whether used alone or combined with standard antibiotics, have shown promise in combating drug-resistant bacteria. This study investigated the antibacterial activity and combinatori...

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Main Authors: Armel Jackson Seukep, Ojong Carlos Gerard Ojong, Helene Gueaba Mbuntcha, Valaire Yemene Matieta, Elisabeth Menkem Zeuko’o, Arnaud Fondjo Kouam, Victor Kuete, Lucy Ayamba Ndip
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Tropical Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jotm/9916282
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author Armel Jackson Seukep
Ojong Carlos Gerard Ojong
Helene Gueaba Mbuntcha
Valaire Yemene Matieta
Elisabeth Menkem Zeuko’o
Arnaud Fondjo Kouam
Victor Kuete
Lucy Ayamba Ndip
author_facet Armel Jackson Seukep
Ojong Carlos Gerard Ojong
Helene Gueaba Mbuntcha
Valaire Yemene Matieta
Elisabeth Menkem Zeuko’o
Arnaud Fondjo Kouam
Victor Kuete
Lucy Ayamba Ndip
author_sort Armel Jackson Seukep
collection DOAJ
description The increase in antibiotic resistance has increased the demand for new and safe therapeutic options. Herbal beverages, whether used alone or combined with standard antibiotics, have shown promise in combating drug-resistant bacteria. This study investigated the antibacterial activity and combinatorial efficacy of common herbal beverages prepared from clove, cinnamon, and thyme. The inhibitory and cidal effects were examined using MIC and MBC on a panel of 14 multidrug-resistant strains and clinical isolates (resistant to ciprofloxacin (CIP), tetracycline (TET), and erythromycin (ERY)), including Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Shigella species, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The combinatorial efficacy was further evaluated using a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICi). Qualitative phytochemical screening of the plant extracts followed established protocols. The tested botanicals showed inhibitory effects against all 14 tested bacteria, with varying degrees of potency (MICs ranged from 13.33 ± 2.67 to 1024 ± 0.00 μg/mL). The aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of clove demonstrated the highest activity, with most MIC values ranging from 13.33 ± 2.67 to 256 ± 0.00 μg/mL, indicating excellent to good efficacy. When combined with TET, CIP, and ERY, clove extracts exhibited significant synergistic and additive interactions, leading to more than a 100-fold reduction in the MICs of the antibiotics in some cases. The most notable synergistic interactions were observed with the combination of clove hydroethanol extract with TET (FICi = 0.078 ± 0.016) against P. aeruginosa. The findings indicate possible optimization of antibiotic treatment strategies using these combinations, which may help mitigate antibiotic resistance and improve patient outcomes. However, an antagonistic effect was observed with the clove aqueous extract and CIP on S. aureus, which may require further evaluation. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of several major bioactive secondary metabolites, including phenols, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, saponins, and alkaloids. Overall, the tested botanicals, particularly clove, demonstrate considerable potential in fighting drug-resistant bacteria, either through direct action or by enhancing the effectiveness of existing antibiotics. Further, in vivo testing and investigation of the mechanisms behind the active combinations are recommended to assess their overall efficacy.
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spelling doaj-art-152b8ee914e94a238f26d2e4567ed16f2025-08-20T03:12:19ZengWileyJournal of Tropical Medicine1687-96942025-01-01202510.1155/jotm/9916282In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Herbal Beverage Extracts From Cinnamon, Clove, and Thyme and Their Interactive Antimicrobial Profile With Selected Antibiotics Against Drug-Resistant Clinical PathogensArmel Jackson Seukep0Ojong Carlos Gerard Ojong1Helene Gueaba Mbuntcha2Valaire Yemene Matieta3Elisabeth Menkem Zeuko’o4Arnaud Fondjo Kouam5Victor Kuete6Lucy Ayamba Ndip7Department of Biomedical SciencesDepartment of Biomedical SciencesDepartment of BiochemistryDepartment of BiochemistryDepartment of Biomedical SciencesDepartment of Biomedical SciencesDepartment of BiochemistryDepartment of Microbiology and ParasitologyThe increase in antibiotic resistance has increased the demand for new and safe therapeutic options. Herbal beverages, whether used alone or combined with standard antibiotics, have shown promise in combating drug-resistant bacteria. This study investigated the antibacterial activity and combinatorial efficacy of common herbal beverages prepared from clove, cinnamon, and thyme. The inhibitory and cidal effects were examined using MIC and MBC on a panel of 14 multidrug-resistant strains and clinical isolates (resistant to ciprofloxacin (CIP), tetracycline (TET), and erythromycin (ERY)), including Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Shigella species, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The combinatorial efficacy was further evaluated using a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICi). Qualitative phytochemical screening of the plant extracts followed established protocols. The tested botanicals showed inhibitory effects against all 14 tested bacteria, with varying degrees of potency (MICs ranged from 13.33 ± 2.67 to 1024 ± 0.00 μg/mL). The aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of clove demonstrated the highest activity, with most MIC values ranging from 13.33 ± 2.67 to 256 ± 0.00 μg/mL, indicating excellent to good efficacy. When combined with TET, CIP, and ERY, clove extracts exhibited significant synergistic and additive interactions, leading to more than a 100-fold reduction in the MICs of the antibiotics in some cases. The most notable synergistic interactions were observed with the combination of clove hydroethanol extract with TET (FICi = 0.078 ± 0.016) against P. aeruginosa. The findings indicate possible optimization of antibiotic treatment strategies using these combinations, which may help mitigate antibiotic resistance and improve patient outcomes. However, an antagonistic effect was observed with the clove aqueous extract and CIP on S. aureus, which may require further evaluation. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of several major bioactive secondary metabolites, including phenols, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, saponins, and alkaloids. Overall, the tested botanicals, particularly clove, demonstrate considerable potential in fighting drug-resistant bacteria, either through direct action or by enhancing the effectiveness of existing antibiotics. Further, in vivo testing and investigation of the mechanisms behind the active combinations are recommended to assess their overall efficacy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jotm/9916282
spellingShingle Armel Jackson Seukep
Ojong Carlos Gerard Ojong
Helene Gueaba Mbuntcha
Valaire Yemene Matieta
Elisabeth Menkem Zeuko’o
Arnaud Fondjo Kouam
Victor Kuete
Lucy Ayamba Ndip
In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Herbal Beverage Extracts From Cinnamon, Clove, and Thyme and Their Interactive Antimicrobial Profile With Selected Antibiotics Against Drug-Resistant Clinical Pathogens
Journal of Tropical Medicine
title In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Herbal Beverage Extracts From Cinnamon, Clove, and Thyme and Their Interactive Antimicrobial Profile With Selected Antibiotics Against Drug-Resistant Clinical Pathogens
title_full In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Herbal Beverage Extracts From Cinnamon, Clove, and Thyme and Their Interactive Antimicrobial Profile With Selected Antibiotics Against Drug-Resistant Clinical Pathogens
title_fullStr In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Herbal Beverage Extracts From Cinnamon, Clove, and Thyme and Their Interactive Antimicrobial Profile With Selected Antibiotics Against Drug-Resistant Clinical Pathogens
title_full_unstemmed In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Herbal Beverage Extracts From Cinnamon, Clove, and Thyme and Their Interactive Antimicrobial Profile With Selected Antibiotics Against Drug-Resistant Clinical Pathogens
title_short In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Herbal Beverage Extracts From Cinnamon, Clove, and Thyme and Their Interactive Antimicrobial Profile With Selected Antibiotics Against Drug-Resistant Clinical Pathogens
title_sort in vitro antibacterial potential of herbal beverage extracts from cinnamon clove and thyme and their interactive antimicrobial profile with selected antibiotics against drug resistant clinical pathogens
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jotm/9916282
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