Antimicrobial effects of Utazi (Gongronema latifolium benth.) leaf extracts against selected microbial isolates

The growing problem of antibiotic resistance has made it increasingly difficult to treat common infections, prompting the search for new and effective alternatives. One promising source is Gongronema latifolium, a leafy plant widely used in traditional African medicine. This study is aimed at exploring the antimicrobial potential of its leaf extracts, specifically the aqueous, ethanol, and methanol extracts, against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial isolates including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, Citrobacter koseri, Proteus mirabilis, and Acinetobacter baumannii. The phytochemical screening of G. latifoilum leaf extracts revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, phenols, terpenoids, glycosides, and phytosterols. Antibiotic susceptibility with G. latifolium extracts using the agar well diffusion method, at 1g/ml concentration, all three extracts exhibited antibacterial activity, though at varying levels with the methanol extract showing the highest effect, with the highest inhibition zone of 32 mm against Bacillus subtilis. Other susceptible organisms included Staphylococcus aureus (16 mm) Klebsiella pneumonia (13 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12 mm), Proteus mirabilis (9 mm) and Citrobacter sp. (12 mm). However, Acinetobacter baumannii (0-8 mm) and Enterococcus sp. showed higher resistance to the plant extracts (0-10 mm). These results show the potential of G. latifolium as a new antibacterial agent and validate the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of infections. Particularly, the methanol extract shows potential for further development into treatments targeting drug-resistant bacteria.