Investigating Plant-Derived Antimicrobials as a Low-Cost Prevention for Pneumonia
Medicine, Health, and Disease- Grade:
- 12
- Teacher:
- Viktoriya Yurkiv
Pneumonia remains a leading cause of preventable mortality worldwide, particularly in low-income regions where antibiotic access is limited and antimicrobial resistance is rising. Plant-derived antimicrobials represent a potentially low-cost and sustainable alternative. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of four plant extracts—Moringa oleifera, Abelmoschus esculentus (okra), Acacia senegal, and Ocimum basilicum (basil)—against Escherichia coli K-12 using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Extracts were prepared using both water and ethanol solvents and tested on Mueller-Hinton agar plates. However, due to prolonged spectrophotometer malfunction during the experimental period and procedural timing limitations involving extract preparation and agar freshness, consistent and interpretable inhibition data could not be obtained. Observations suggest that extract potency may decline without rapid plating after preparation, and bacterial lawn consistency depends heavily on recently prepared Mueller-Hinton agar. Although results were inconclusive, this investigation identified critical methodological considerations for future plant-based antimicrobial research and refined experimental protocol for improved reliability.