[1]Nkasa, H. L., [2]Kabena, O., *2Ngbolua, J. K., 3Matafwari, Z. L., 3Ndamba, P. M., 4,5Lunguya, O. M., 6Ambimani, C. I., 1Mifundu, M., 1Mulenga, M. C., 1Malongwe, K. J., 1Kayembe, S. J., and 1Taba, K. M.
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
2Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
3Higher Institute of Medical Technology of Kinshasa, P. O. Box 774 Kinshasa XI Section: Laboratory Technical, Democratic Republic of the Congo
4Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
5National Institute of Biomedical Research, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
6Higher Pedagogical Institute of Isiro, Democratic Republic of the Congo *Correspondence to: jpngbolua@unikin.ac.cd
Abstract:
Background: Mathesia is a hydro-alcoholic emulsion, colourless and somewhat viscous, based on extracts of medicinal plants and containing saponins, polyphenols, tannins, and reducing sugars. In this study, we proposed to carry out an in vitro study of the antibacterial activity of phytomedicine Mathesia on strains of bacteria isolated from diabetic foot ulcers and chronic wounds of patients in care in the University Clinics and the Hospital Centre of Mont Amba in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Methodology: This in vitro study was carried out in the bacteriology laboratory of the Higher Institute of
Medical Technology of Kinshasa from February to June 2022. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method on MuellerHinton agar was used for antibacterial assay of different concentrations of Mathesia on 7 different Grampositive and Gram-negative bacterial species isolated from chronic wounds. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Mathesia for the isolates was determined by broth dilution method on Mueller Hinton broth media.
Results: The results from this study showed that Mathesia has an inhibitory effect upon the 7 bacterial species at MIC value of less than 100 μg/ml. The lowest MIC value of 1.95 μg/ml was obtained against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Proteus species.
Conclusion: The results obtained in this study corroborate previous studies which demonstrated effectiveness of Mathesia on Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes and Aspergillus species. This activity could also be justified by the presence of phenolic acids, tannins and flavonoids which possess antibacterial properties.
Keywords: Phytomedicine; Mathesia; antibacterial activity; wound infection; multi-drug resistant bacteria
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