Overall , and evaluation of and leaf extracts for antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens.

INTRODUCTION

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a critical global health issue, prompting the urgent exploration of alternative plant-derived antimicrobial therapies. In this context, the present study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy and safety profiles of and leaf extracts against multidrug-resistant pathogens, integrating antimicrobial assays, toxicity assessments, and modeling approaches.

METHODS

Leaf extracts from and were prepared by solvent-based maceration using methanol, acetone, and distilled water. Their antimicrobial properties were evaluated through disk and well diffusion assays to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against clinically relevant pathogens. Toxicological assessments were performed using the BALB/c mice model, including histopathological examinations, hematological profiling, and biochemical analyses. A complementary toxicogenomic screening was conducted using a cell-based reporter assay to profile nuclear receptor signaling and cellular stress responses. Furthermore, computational modeling and molecular docking were employed to predict the possible interactions of selected phytochemicals with cytochrome c peroxidase.

RESULTS

Methanolic extracts of exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant isolates, whereas extracts showed minimal efficacy across all experimental contexts. molecular docking analyses revealed high-affinity interactions between olive-derived phenolic compounds and cytochrome c peroxidase, suggesting a plausible mechanistic basis for the observed antibacterial effects. , toxicological evaluation in BALB/c mice administered aqueous formulations of the methanolic olive extract demonstrated dose-dependent hepatic and renal histopathological alterations, accompanied by dysregulation of the immunological profiles and elevated hepatic enzyme levels. These findings were consistent with outcomes from the cell reporter assays and computational toxicology models, which indicated potential nephrotoxic and immunotoxic risks at higher concentrations.

DISCUSSION

These findings validate the promising antimicrobial activity of and leaf extracts against multidrug-resistant pathogens. However, further investigations on precise dosage optimization and long-term safety evaluations are essential before these extracts are implemented in clinical practice.