Marshanty Obem Martin1 
,
Edna Ifeoma Chukwura2
For correspondence:- Marshanty Martin Email: martin.marshanty@lmu.edu.ng Tel:+234 8063 242 615
Received: 30 July 2025 Accepted: 15 December 2025 Published: 29 December 2025
Citation: Martin MO, Chukwura EI. Modulation of Staphylococcus haemolyticus-infected diabetic wounds using Gongronema latifolium extract. Trop J Pharm Res 2025; 24(12):1525-1533 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v24i12.8
© 2025 The authors.
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Purpose: To assess the antibacterial efficacy of Gongronema latifolium on resistant bacteria isolated from infected diabetic wound sites. Methods: Staphylococcus haemolyticus was obtained from wound samples (n = 159) of hospitalised patients using standard cultural procedures and identified with 16S rDNA molecular typing. The following antibiotic resistance pattern (chloramphenicol, gentamicin, rifampicin, tetracycline, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, amikacin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin) was determined using the disc diffusion method. In vivo wound healing capacities of the leaf extract were carried out using four groups of rats (A - D), each containing four rats, induced intraperitoneally with freshly prepared alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg) injected after an 18-hour fast and compared with a standard antibiotic (ciprofloxacin, 500 mg/kg). Histopathology was done at the end of the study, haematology, and microbial counts were used as monitoring parameters for wound healing process of the G. latifolium. Results: Staphylococcus haemolyticus showed resistance to 50 % of tested antibiotics. The extract exhibited a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 62.5 mg/mL and a Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of 500 mg/mL against Staphylococcus haemolyticus. There was histological evidence on phagocytosis and re-epithelization of traumatised tissue sites after periods of administering both medicinal plants. Inflammatory cells were seen to be evident in both untreated and treated groups of non-diabetic and diabetic rats, which portrays the role of innate immunity in modulating S. haemolyticus infection in the wound sites. Noticeable changes (p < 0.05) were observed in neutrophil and lymphocyte values, while monocyte values showed no significant variation. Eosinophils and Basophils were not expressed. Conclusion: Gongronema latifolium is a potent, available and sustainable alternative to antibiotic use in the management of bacterial-infected wounds, especially with Staphylococcus infection.
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