Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Multidrug-Resistant Proteus mirabilis in Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Exploring the Antibacterial Effects of Sansevieria zeylanica Extracts

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a significant global health burden, exacerbated by the rise in multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. This study evaluated the antibacterial effects of Sansevieria zeylanica (S. zeylanica) leaf and root extracts against MDR Proteus mirabilis isolated from diabetic patients with DFUs at a teaching hospital in Nigeria. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of clinical isolates of MDR P. mirabilis was conducted using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The antibacterial activity of S. zeylanica extracts was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method. Additionally, the synergistic/antagonistic effect of the extracts with Ofloxacin was assessed. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high resistance to conventional antibiotics, with 61.5% of isolates identified as MDR. Methanolic extracts of S. zeylanica demonstrated moderate antibacterial activity, with root extracts exhibiting greater inhibition zones (10-17 mm) compared to leaf extracts (8-13 mm). However, co-administration with Ofloxacin revealed an antagonistic effect. These findings suggest that S. zeylanica root extracts hold promise as an alternative therapeutic agent for DFU management. Further research is needed to optimize extract formulations and explore their clinical applications.