Comparative Effects of <i>Allium sativum</i> (Garlic) and <i>Allium porrum</i> (Leek) on Lacerated Wound Isolates

Abstract

Background: The pharmacological properties of Allium family have been reported to include antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-aging and antilipidemic properties. This investigation was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial properties of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Allium sativum and Allium porrum on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms from chronic wound infections. Methods: Ten (10) isolates were obtained from infected open wounds from patients at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University teaching Hospital Amakwu and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra state, Nigeria. Gram reaction and other biochemical tests namely: Indole, Citrate, Catalase, coagulase and oxidase tests were done for identification of the isolates. The isolates are K. pneumoniae (three), S. aureus (two), Enterococcus (two), P. aeruginosa (two) and E. coli (one). The antibacterial properties of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Allium sativum and Allium porrum were determined using the agar well diffusion method while Gentamicin (10 mcg) and Tetracycline (30 mcg) were used as positive controls. Result: The results of the study showed that the ethanolic extract of Allium sativum (500 mg/ml and 250 mg/ml) respectively had an inhibitory effect on all the bacteria isolates under study, except a strain of P. aeruginosa which was also resistant to Allium porrum and the conventional antibiotics (Gentamicin and Tetracycline) used as positive controls. The ethonolic extract of Allium porrum (500 mg/ml and 250 mg/ml) respectively inhibited all the bacteria under investigation except one strain of P. aeruginosa and E. coli . Worthy of note is that the extracts of both plants inhibited two (2) strains of K. pneumoniae and one (1) strain of S. aureus that were resistant to Gentamicin and Tetracycline. The combination of these two plant extracts did not produce any synergistic effects. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence that extracts of Allium sativum and Allium porrum possess antibacteria properties and could serve as alternatives to conventional antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial infections from wounds.