INHIBITORY EFFICACY OF THE HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF FICUS ITEOPHYLLA MIQ. (MORACEAE) LEAVES AGAINST CLINICAL STRAINS OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT PSEUDOMONAS

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium that poses major problems in hospital settings. Recent scientific research has shown the emergence of highly resistant strains particularly to carbapenems leading the WHO to classify this pathogen as a critical priority threatening human health. This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial effects of an 80% methanolic extract of Ficus iteophylla Miq. (Moraceae) leaves against 11 P. aeruginosa strains with different phenotypes and one reference strain, using agar well diffusion and broth macro-dilution methods. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was used to characterize the chemical compounds. The extract demonstrated varying levels of activity against the strains. It inhibited bacterial growth, producing inhibition zone diameters ranging from 18 ± 1.4 mm to 13 ± 2.0 mm. The largest zone (18 ± 1.4 mm) was observed with P. aeruginosa 795C, an imipenem-resistant strain (due to a porin D2 deficiency) isolated from the pus of a patient with a genital superinfection. The extract exhibited a bactericidal effect against 41.66% of the strains, with MIC values ranging from 0.625 to 1.25 mg/mL ; MBC values ranged from 2.5 to 10 mg/mL. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, polyterpenes, anthocyanins, and polyphenols compounds beneficial in the management of Pseudomonas infections. This work contributes to the fight against bacterial resistance and justifies the current traditional use of F. iteophylla.