Antibacterial Activity for Acne Treatment through Medicinal Plants Extracts: Novel Alternative Therapies for Acne

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a chronic skin infection affecting the majority of adults. There are several internal and external factors responsible for this infection. The present study emphasizes the screening and combinations of medicinal plants extracts against acne-causing bacteria and antibacterial activity of these plant extracts. Antibacterial activities of three solvents extracts of Camellia sinensis, Azadirachta indica, and Cassia acutifolia was carried out using disc diffusion method against Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. The results revealed that different plant extracts showed noticeable activity against different test organisms. The acetone extract of combination A (C/A) showed the higher mean of antibacterial susceptibility against six bacterial strain with synergistic effect by 20.33mm than other combinations when combination A (C/A) was added. The antimicrobial susceptibility of combination A (C/A) was higher than combination group at concentration of 10-2 with 95% confidence interval. The present study concluded that the acetonic extract of C/A was the best antibacterial agent/candidate to treat acne vulgaris disease. Further trials might confirm its best possible doses for prescription to the dermatologists, physicians and clinicians in the field.

Keywords

• antibacterial activity
• plant extracts
• acne vulgaris
• bacterial strains