Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract and Ciprofloxacin On Ocular Bacteria Infection in Owerri, Imo State

@article{1722862,
      author = {Sam-Duru Prisca Akunne, Esenwah E. C., Azuamah Y. C.; Megwas A. U., Ikoro N. C.; Daniel-Nwosu E. I., Ozurumba O. A.; Nwanesindu U. E.},
      title = {Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract and Ciprofloxacin On Ocular Bacteria Infection in Owerri, Imo State},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {3},
      pages = {560-563},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722862.pdf},
      abstract = {Ocular bacterial infections are a major cause of bacteria-associated conjunctivitis and may culminate in visual impairment and blindness. The disease is treated with topical antibiotics. However, the emergence of antibiotic drug resistance in ocular infections undermines successful treatment, and alternative interventions using natural remedies are advocated. This study compared the effectiveness of Moringa oleifera leaf extract and ciprofloxacin in the treatment of ocular bacterial infections. The study was conducted at the Molecular and Biochemistry Laboratory of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State. It adopted an experimental design involving twenty-four adult Wistar rats grouped into four groups: Group A (not infected, not treated), Group B (infected, not treated), Group C (infected and treated with Moringa oleifera leaf extract), and Group D (infected and treated with ciprofloxacin). Moringa oleifera leaf extract was prepared using the Soxhlet extraction method. Different concentrations of the extract (100 mg/ml, 75 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml) and ciprofloxacin were prepared to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against ocular bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes). Data were analysed using appropriate statistical tools. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Moringa oleifera leaf extract contains flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins and phenols and showed antibacterial activity (P = 0.001). Quantitative analysis revealed flavonoids as the most abundant (1258.07 ± 13.30 µg/g), followed by phenols (560.47 ± 10.03 µg/g) and saponins (456.53 ± 5.62 µg/g). Tannins (20.07 ± 0.44 µg/g) and alkaloids (8.20 ± 0.35 µg/g) were present in lower amounts. At 3 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml and 1.5 mg/ml, Moringa extract produced zones of inhibition of 34.67 ± 0.57 mm, 27.33 ± 1.16 mm and 16.33 ± 0.58 mm against Streptococcus pyogenes, and 17.67 ± 2.52 mm, 18.00 ± 1.00 mm and 9.67 ± 1.53 mm against Staphylococcus aureus. Ciprofloxacin at the same concentrations produced 24.67 ± 3.51 mm, 22.67 ± 0.58 mm and 20.00 ± 1.00 mm against Streptococcus pyogenes, and 43.33 ± 3.52 mm, 32.33 ± 0.58 mm and 27.67 ± 2.52 mm against Streptococcus aureus. The findings show that Moringa oleifera leaf extract possesses significant antibacterial properties and may serve as an alternative treatment option for ocular bacterial infections. The study recommends that the leaf extract be formulated into an eye drop for the treatment of ocular bacterial infections.},
      keywords = {Moringa oleifera, Ciprofloxacin, Ocular bacterial infection, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Antibacterial activity.},
      month = {September},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I3-1722862}
  }