Evaluation of the Antimicrobial and Wound Healing efficacy of Extracts from Ehretia species and their Silver Nanoparticles.
| dc.contributor.author | Oselusi, Samson Olaitan | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-01-06T07:01:40Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-01-06T07:01:40Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The rise of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens and the increasing prevalence of chronic wounds pose serious threats to public health and the global economy. Chronic wounds become difficult to treat, especially when they harbor polymicrobial infections, as these complex infections often encourage the development of drug resistance. Many existing conventional treatments are associated with constraints, such as limited efficacy, high costs, and adverse side effects on surrounding healthy tissues. These factors necessitate a paradigm shift. In recent years, extracts from medicinal plants and their chemical derivatives have attracted significant attention as promising alternative therapeutic agents. This is primarily attributed to their cost-effectiveness, widespread accessibility, and fewer side effects. Ehretia species, widely distributed medicinal plants across southern Africa and other parts of the world, have been traditionally used to treat various ailments, including respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, skin conditions, and inflammatory and pain-related ailments. In addition to their medicinal properties, plant extracts are increasingly valuable in green nanotechnology, offering a cost–effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly method for fabricating nanoparticles (NPs). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) hold significant potential in wound healing by reducing inflammation and preventing infections. In this respect, the combination of nanotechnology and medicinal plant extracts offers an innovative green approach to enhancing wound treatment. The current study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Ehretia rigida (Er) leaf aqueous extract and its AgNPs as potential antimicrobial and wound healing agents. A multifaceted methodology combining in silico and in vitro approaches was used to achieve this goal. Initially, a literature search was conducted to retrieve and generate a library of phytoconstituents from Ehretia species. A key protein structure in the selected multidrug-resistant bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, specifically the carbapenemase-2 (KPC-2), was identified from freely available databases, such as https://www.uniprot.org/ and https://www.rcsb.org/. These datasets were used in protein–ligand simulations to investigate the interactions and potential mechanisms of action of the phytoconstituents. Thereafter, Er leaf aqueous extraction was performed and used for the synthesis of Er-AgNPs, followed by optimization of the synthesis conditions. The synthesized Er-AgNPs were characterized via various physicochemical techniques, such as ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). Phytochemical screening was performed to quantify the total phenolic and flavonoid contents in the Er leaf extract and Er-AgNPs. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10566/21598 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of the Western Cape | |
| dc.subject | Antimicrobial | |
| dc.subject | Cytotoxicity | |
| dc.subject | Ehretia rigida | |
| dc.subject | Ehretia spp | |
| dc.subject | In silico studies | |
| dc.title | Evaluation of the Antimicrobial and Wound Healing efficacy of Extracts from Ehretia species and their Silver Nanoparticles. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |