EVALUATION OF IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL EFFICACY OF A HERBAL WOUND DRESSING COMPRISING ALPHA TOCOPHEROL, POVIDONE IODINE, AND CASSIA AURICULATA AGAINST PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN WOUNDS

Abstract

Background: The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has necessitated the development of alternative antimicrobial agents for wound management. Herbal formulations, due to their broad spectrum of bioactive compounds, have emerged as promising candidates for enhancing wound healing and preventing infections.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of a novel wound dressing formulated with alpha tocopherol, povidone iodine, and Cassia auriculata against common wound-infecting bacteria: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas species.

Methods: The antimicrobial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion assay and time-kill curve assays. The assays tested varying concentrations (25 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL, and 100 µg/mL) of the herbal formulation against the specified pathogens.

Results: The herbal wound dressing demonstrated concentration-dependent antibacterial activity across all tested pathogens. Notably, it exhibited strong efficacy against Enterococcus faecalis, with zones of inhibition expanding with increasing concentrations. The time-kill curve assays revealed that higher concentrations of the formulation significantly reduced bacterial viability over a 5-hour period, comparing favorably with standard antimicrobial treatments.

Discussion: The results suggest that the combination of alpha tocopherol, povidone iodine, and Cassia auriculata in the wound dressing formulation provides effective antimicrobial action, likely due to the synergistic effects of these components. This formulation not only inhibited the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria but also maintained prolonged bactericidal activity, essential for preventing colonization and infection in wounds.

Conclusion: The alpha tocopherol, povidone iodine, and Cassia auriculata-based herbal wound dressing holds significant potential as an alternative to conventional antimicrobial agents for managing bacterial infections in wounds. Its efficacy against a spectrum of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, underscores its potential in advanced wound care applications. Further studies are recommended to explore the mechanistic basis of its antimicrobial properties and to evaluate its clinical effectiveness in wound healing.