Prospects for the use of plant extracts for the treatment of wounds infected with poly-resistant pathogens

Abstract

In press

Background. The global spread of multi-drug resistant microorganisms has significantly complicated the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases in general and traumatic injuries in particular. Multi-drug resistant bacteria of the ESKAPE group pose a particular threat, which necessitates the search for alternative antimicrobial agents of natural origin.

Aim. Study the possibility of using alcoholic extracts of pomegranate peels and comfrey roots for the treatment of wounds infected with multi-drug resistant microorganisms of the ESKAPE group.

Materials and Methods. The antimicrobial activity of alcoholic extracts of pomegranate peels and comfrey root against multi-drug resistant microorganisms was studied using the agar diffusion spot method. The cytotoxicity of plant extracts was studied on human dermal fibroblast and osteosarcoma cell cultures in the resazurin assay. The overall toxicity of the extracts was determined on the in ovo model. Quail eggs (29 pieces) were divided into four groups: two – treated with pomegranate and comfrey extracts, one – with saline, and one – non-treated. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA in GraphPad Prism 8.0 software, with significance set at p≤0.05. The study was carried out at the expense of grant support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (state registration number 0124U000540).

Research Ethics. The studies were conducted in accordance with the "General Ethical Principles of Animal Experiments" (Kyiv, 2001), the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki (1964–2024) and with Sumy State University bioethics commission’s approval (Protocol No.1/02 of 02/18/2025).

Results. The alcoholic extract of pomegranate demonstrated effectiveness against all studied microorganisms and was non-toxic to cell cultures on the 1st day of observation at a dilution of 1:8. The alcoholic extract of comfrey demonstrated the absence of toxicity during 1, 3 and 5 days of observation and a moderate stimulating effect on cell culture at a dilution of 1:32. The general safety of pomegranate extract and the stimulating effect of comfrey extract were demonstrated in the in ovo model.

Conclusions. Alcoholic extracts of pomegranate peel and comfrey root are promising for complex therapy of ESKAPE-infected wounds: pomegranate extract exhibits antimicrobial activity, while comfrey extract stimulates MG63 and HDF cell proliferation without general toxicity, justifying their further evaluation.

Keywords: experimental medicine, antimicrobials, antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.