Exploring Guava and Neem Extracts as Therapeutic Options for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Africa

Abstract

MRSA is a virulent strain of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and a principal cause of disease prevalence and death rates. MRSA's resistance to traditional antibiotics makes it a rather crucial threat to public health. Plants with traditional medicinal uses, including A. indica and P. guajava, may provide an alternate means of treatment. This review explores the antibacterial capabilities of Psidium guajava (guava) and Azadirachta indica (neem) against MRSA by evaluating data from multiple investigations carried out in Africa. Study shows that A. indica and P. guajava extracts may have strong antibacterial action; multiple studies show that they can prevent growth of MRSA and stop formation of biofilms. Despite the extracts' lower efficacy when compared to modern antibiotics, reports suggest that plant extracts could serve as a novel approach to effectively tackle antimicrobial resistance due to their enhanced synergistic efficacy when combined with other extracts. This is all achieved with low toxicity, hence the call for more research to investigate this thoroughly. Moreover, the socio-economic consequences of applying these easily accessible and reasonably priced plant-based remedies in environments with limited resources were determined to be advantageous to Africa. The review highlights the necessity of conducting more thorough clinical trials and standardizing procedures to validate the therapeutic potential of these plants against MRSA.