Comparative study on the antimicrobial efficacy of leaf and root extracts of selected ethnomedicinal plants

The antimicrobial potential of leaf and root extracts from selected ethnomedicinal plants was assessed to determine their comparative efficacy as natural alternatives to conventional antimicrobials. Standard microbiological assays, including disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests, were employed to evaluate activity against clinically relevant pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Both plant parts demonstrated measurable antimicrobial effects, though their relative efficacy varied by organism. In several cases, root extracts showed stronger antibacterial activity, while leaf extracts were more effective against fungal strains, indicating a complementary spectrum of action. These findings highlight the importance of plant part selection in maximizing therapeutic outcomes and suggest that both leaves and roots harbor distinct bioactive compounds with clinical potential. By bridging traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge with modern pharmacological validation, the study underscores the promise of plant-based antimicrobials in addressing the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance and supports their further exploration for integration into natural product drug development.