PLANT-BASED SYNERGISTIC THERAPY OF PTEROCARPUS SANTALINOIDES AND TETRAPLEURA TETRAPTERA EXTRACTS AGAINST STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the plant-based synergistic therapy of Pterocarpus santalinoides and Tetrapleura tetraptera against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Methods: Qualitative phytochemical screening of bioactive extracts of both plants, and the sensitivity test against Streptococcus pneumoniae were conducted. Results: Screening results revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, and sterols in the extracts, with sterols absent in T. tetraptera. Sensitivity results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for P. santalinoides, T. tetraptera, and their combination were 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, and 6.25 mg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: The superior efficacy of the combined extract underscores the potential of phytochemical synergy in developing effective, low-cost therapeutic alternatives to synthetic antibiotics, particularly for use in rural settings with limited healthcare access. It has also highlighted the promise of such a combination as an efficacious phytomedicine to combat S. pneumoniae infections, by potentially reducing treatment time, increasing cure rates, and decreasing drug resistance.