Comparative analysis of antimicrobial properties of medicinal plants used in veterinary medicine

The surge in microorganisms' immunity to treatments has revitalized focus on herbal remedies in animal healthcare. The intent behind this research was to weigh the bacteria-thwarting efficacies of five medicinal plants commonly used in veterinary practice: Echinacea purpurea, Allium sativum, Matricaria chamomilla, Thymus vulgaris, and Calendula officinalis. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of each plant were prepared and tested against four bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae) and two fungal strains (Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus). Using MBC/MFC (minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration), MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration), and agar well diffusion tests, the germicidal efficacy was assessed. Phytochemical screening was performed to identify major bioactive compounds. All plant extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity, with T. vulgaris and A. sativum demonstrating the highest potency. Ethanolic extracts consistently outperformed aqueous extracts. Bacterial strains exhibited the greatest susceptibility to T. vulgaris's ethanol-based extract, with MIC readings ranging from 0.39 to 0.19 mg/mL. Phytochemical analysis revealed a high presence of terpenoids and phenolic compounds in the most effective extracts. The investigated curative botanicals demonstrate significant pathogen-inhibiting properties, particularly T. vulgaris and A. sativum. These findings suggest promising avenues for developing plant-based antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine, potentially offering alternatives to synthetic antibiotics and addressing antimicrobial resistance concerns.