The Effects of Marketing Orientations on The Performance of SME Construction Firms in Malaysia

Abstract

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) pose significant health challenges globally, often caused by bacterial pathogens. This study investigated the antibacterial activity of three medicinal plants-Ocimum sanctum, Adhatodavasica, and Solanumtrilobalum-traditionally used to treat URTIs in village communities. The plant materials were processed into aqueous extracts using a Soxhlet apparatus. Antibacterial activity was assessed against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi, common URTI pathogens, putting to use the agar well diffusion method. The least inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined for each extract. The combined effect of the extracts was evaluated using the checkerboard method. Furthermore, the efficacy of the extracts against patient sputum samples was assessed. The results demonstrated significant antibacterial activity for all plant extracts against the tested pathogens. Importantly, the combined action of the extracts exhibited a synergistic effect, enhancing their antibacterial efficacy compared to individual extracts. These findings bring to notice that these medicinal plants can be promising candidates for the making of alternative or adjunct therapies for URTIs. However, further research is warranted to explain their mechanisms of action and to optimize their therapeutic potential.