Unveiling the Antimicrobial Potential of Ricinus communis: A Comprehensive Review of Its Relevance to Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Pathogens

Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a major global healthcare challenge, significantly affecting postoperative recovery, prolonging hospital stays, and increasing healthcare costs. The growing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance further complicates their management by limiting the effectiveness of existing antibiotics. The reduced efficacy of conventional antimicrobial agents due to resistance development, poor bioavailability, and toxic side effects has intensified scientific interest in safe, plant-based therapeutic alternatives. <i>Ricinus communis</i> (castor oil plant), a widely used medicinal species, exhibits a diverse pharmacological profile, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties. This review comprehensively synthesizes ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and microbiological evidence regarding the antimicrobial potential of <i>R. communis</i>, emphasizing its activity against bacterial pathogens frequently associated with SSIs. Evidence from global literature demonstrates that methanolic and ethanolic extracts of <i>R. communis</i> leaves exhibit potent inhibitory activity against multidrug-resistant microorganisms, including <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. These activities are primarily attributed to bioactive phytoconstituents such as ricinine, gallic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, and flavonoid derivatives. Collectively, findings from around the world identify <i>R. communis</i> as a promising phytotherapeutic candidate for infection management. However, further studies focusing on safety, pharmacokinetics, extraction standardization, and clinical validation remain essential for its integration into modern evidence-based medicine.