Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Syzygium aromaticum Plant Against Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from Women with Urinary Tract Infections

Background: Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is an ancient medicinal plant with a long history of use in traditional medicine. It possesses a diverse array of bioactive compounds and has been employed for centuries in Asian countries, especially India and other developing nations, to address fungal infections affecting the skin, mouth, urinary system, and vaginal tract. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the antibacterial effects of an ethanolic extract derived from the S. aromaticum plant on clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis. This was achieved by conducting an agar diffusion susceptibility test, indicating the presence of an inhibitory zone against the growth of the microorganisms. Methods: In this study, 251 clinical urine samples were collected from women suffering from urinary tract infections (UTIs) aged 17 to 52 years in Baghdad City, Iraq, from September 2021 to January 2022. The samples were examined to determine the occurrence of E. faecalis through morphological identification. This involved employing conventional and differential culture media, performing biochemical tests, and utilizing the Vitek II system. Results: Enterococcus faecalis isolates were found in 35 (16.43%) of 213 samples that showed positive bacterial cultures detected by conventional bacteriological methods and Vitek II. Based on antimicrobial susceptibility test results, 4 concentrations (100, 50, 25, and 12.5 mg/mL) of alcoholic extract of S. aromaticum showed considerable effectiveness against all 35 E. faecalis isolates, where the diameters of the inhibition zones ranged from 21.13 to 7.14 mm; however, no inhibition of zone was seen at concentrations of 6.25 and 3.125 mg/mL. Conclusions: The ethanolic extract obtained from the dried flower buds of clove (S. aromaticum) exhibited significant potential as an antibacterial agent. Furthermore, it suggests the exploitation of this plant as a novel therapeutic alternative for the treatment of UTIs to deal with the problem of drug resistance.