Antibacterial efficacy of Moringa oleifera leaf extract against methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a patient with wound abscesses in Shaafi Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia

Background: Medicinal plants are crucial in traditional medicine, with Moringa oleifera widely recognized for its therapeutic properties. The increasing prevalence of MRSA highlights the need for alternative antimicrobial agents. This study evaluates the antimicrobial efficacy of Moringa oleifera extracts against MRSA and compares it with established broad-spectrum antibiotics, Chloramphenicol and Cefuroxime. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with wound abscesses. These Samples were cultured to Mannitol salt agar and Staphylococcus aureus was identified using conventional microbiological methods, and MRSA was detected via the cefoxitin disk diffusion test. The antimicrobial activity of Moringa oleifera ethanolic extracts against MRSA was assessed using the agar well diffusion method, with cefuroxime and chloramphenicol as positive controls. Zones of inhibition were measured, and data analysis using SPSS revealed significant differences in antimicrobial effectiveness, confirmed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: Cefuroxime exhibited the highest mean zone of inhibition at 20.42 mm, followed by Chloramphenicol at 18.74 mm. Moringa oleifera extracts showed a mean inhibition zone of 17.00 mm, indicating notable antimicrobial activity. One-way ANOVA (F (2, 54) = 3.687, p = 0.032) confirmed significant differences in activity among the substances. Conclusion: Moringa oleifera extracts demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, comparable to Chloramphenicol but less effective than Cefuroxime. These findings suggest that M. oleifera could serve as a valuable natural alternative in managing MRSA infections. Future studies are recommended to further explore the pharmacological potential and mechanisms of action of Moringa oleifera, as well as its application in clinical settings.