THE ROLE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE RACE AGAINST ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN NIGERIA.

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance to human pathogens has proven to be a hurdle for clinicians in Nigeria. This review article was aimed at examining the role of medicinal plants in the race against antimicrobial resistance in Nigeria. This study was undertaken using a qualitative design approach. The search for qualitative and qualitative studies concentrated on the phytochemical constituents of medicinal plants, and evidence of their antimicrobial activity in published in reputable journals. The results of this study shows different medicinal plants have been used for their antimicrobial properties such as Zigiber officinale, Caspicum Chinese, and Vernonia amygdalina. These plants contain phytochemicals such as; glycosides, alkaloids, lignans, lignins, phenolic compounds, cyanogenic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins. The presence of these bioactive compounds in plants form the basis for their bioactive compounds. The antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants used in the various studies synthesized were determined using the disk diffusion methods and the broth dilution method. Zigiber officinale, Caspicum Chinese, and Vernonia amygdalina have been shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity against; Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas hydrophila, Salmonella typhi, and Candida albicans. These findings suggest that these medicinal plants can serve as effective alternatives to synthetic drugs, and can help reduce the healthcare burden associated with drug resistance pathogens. Therefore, the search for more medicinal plants, and their application should be promoted globally.        .