Abstract

ANTIBIOTIC POTENCY AND TECHNICAL COMPARISON OF SHEA BUTTER-RICINUS COMMUNIS OINTMENT AND STANDARD ANTIBIOTIC

Addai-Mensah Donkor*, Martin Ntiamoah Donkor and Abdallah Yakubu

ABSTRACT

Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae), sometimes known as castor oil plant, is the common name for this plant. The primary phytochemical elements that have been identified are saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, and glucosides. Gallic acid, quercetin, gentilic acid, rutin, epicatechin, ellagic acid, monoterpenoids (1, 8-cineole), camphor, and α-sesquiterpenoids (β-caryophyllene) have all been shown to be present in substantial concentrations in the plant's leaves. However, the analysis of the plant roots revealed the presence of indole-3-acetic acid as well as a variety of esters, such as palmitic, stearic, arachidic-hexadecenoic, oleic, linoleic, ricinoleic, and dihydroxy stearic acids. For this investigation, Ricinus communis leaves were utilized. The aim was to study the in vitro activity of Ricinus communis leaves formulated herbal ointment against skin infectious pathogenic bacterial. E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa were the microorganisms employed in the study. Skin and wound infections are known to be associated with these bacteria. All of the microorganisms tested responded favorably to the ointment's antibacterial properties, which were produced with Shea Butter-Extract. The information obtained for the MICs of Shea butter-R. communis herbal ointment was found to be 15 mg/g against each of the tested microorganisms. The MBC of the ointment exhibited a bacteriostatic activity up to a concentration of 200 mg/g. The plant leaf extract-shea butter ointment tested against the bacterial isolates revealed, the plant leaves could be used for preparation of ointment for topical application against skin related diseases.

Keywords: E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa.