Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Exracts Locally Used Against Vaginal Infections in North Eastern Nigeria

Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the antimicrobial efficacy of Lawsonia inermis leaves extracts on some vaginal isolates from clinical specimens. Study Design: The study is a clinical laboratory investigation involving the testing of antibiotic activity of Lawsonia inermis leaves extract against microbial isolates from the vagina. Place and Durations of Studies: This study was carried out in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Samples from Bauchi specialist hospital from the month of January to October, 2024. Methodology: Vaginal swab samples were collected from 219 pregnant patients whose age ranged between 15-45 years. The swabs were inoculated on agar media by streaking to obtain isolates. Appropriate biochemical test was carried out to confirmed isolates. Solvent and aqueous extraction method was used to extract the bioactive components of Lawsonia inermis leaves followed by phytochemical screening. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts were determine using a standardize inoculum and extracts were tested against isolates using well diffusion method and also the Minimum bactericidal concentration MBC was also tested. Results: A total of 131 bacterial and 77 Candida albicans were recovered from 219 clinical specimens out of which 77(37%) were Candida albicans having the highest number of isolates followed by S. aureus 70 (33.7%) for bacteria and the least is Neisseria gonorrhoeae 6(2.9%). from 219 clinical specimen from various group of female patient age range of 15 to 45 years old. Higher incidence was recorded from age group 25 - 30 with percentage frequency of 34.4%, followed by age group 31 to 35 with frequency 18.3% of bacteria. In addition, 19% of E. coli and Gardnerella vaginalis are resistant to all. For the Candida albicans high resistance is found in Griseofulvin (30µg) 47%. Phytochemical analysis shows the presence of alkaloid, tannin, quinones, saponins, flavonoid, glycoside, and phtytosterols. Conclusion: Antimicrobial susceptibility of Lawsonia inermis is active against the target organism. Phytochemical constituents from plant show that they contained active secondary metabolite capable of inhibiting drug-resistant pathogens. Based on the findings of this research work, Aqueous and methanol and ethanol extract of the plants exhibited activity on bacteria and fungi hence possess antimicrobial potentials.