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Abstract

The antimicrobial activities of ethanolic extracts obtained from the leaves of Begonia solimutata L.B. Sm. & Wassh., Begonia goegoensis N.E.Br., Begonia foliosa Kunth, Begonia × erythrophylla Hérincq, Begonia thiemei C.DC., Begonia peltata Otto & Dietr., Begonia heracleifolia Cham. & Schltdl., Begonia dregei Otto & Dietr., and Begonia mexicana G. Karst. ex Fotsch were assessed against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain. The leaves were brought into the laboratory for antimicrobial studies. Freshly crushed leaves were washed, weighed, and homogenized in 96% ethanol (in proportion 1:19) at room temperature. The extracts were then filtered and investigated for their antimicrobial activity. The testing of the antibacterial activity of the plant extracts was carried out in vitro by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion susceptibility test protocol. The most effective plants among species screened against S. aureus NCTC 12493 growth were B. peltata, B. thiemei, B. foliosa, Begonia × erythrophylla, and B. solimutata being highly active with the ethanolic extracts (diameters of inhibition zone ranged from 12.5 to 21 mm). The ethanolic extracts from nine Begonia plant species were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain. Extracts from all test Begonia plants caused a remarkable reduction in bacterial growth, measured as an inhibition zone diameters. The diameter of the inhibition zone for B. solimutata was (16.4±1.1) mm, for B. goegoensis – (14.2±1.0) mm, for B. foliosa – (14.9±1.2) mm, for Begonia × erythrophylla – (16.9±0.9) mm, for B. thiemei – (16.8±1.3) mm, for B. peltata – (18.1±0.9) mm, for B. heracleifolia – (15.3±0.9) mm, for B. dregei – (14.7±1.1) mm, and for B. mexicana – (13.8±0.9) mm/ The highly active antimicrobial effects of extracts obtained from B. peltata and B. thiemei noted against S. aureus NCTC 12493 growth is worthy of highlighting. Our studies indicated that Begonia plants are worthy of further investigation as a potential phytotherapeutic agent for treating infections caused by S. aureus., as well as for the development of innovative feed and preventative products in animal husbandry.

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