EVALUATION OF FORMULATED NATURAL REMEDY FOR THROAT INFECTION USING AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF POLY HERBAL MIXTURE(Curcuma longa, Zingiber Officinale, Citrus aurantifolia, AND Vernonia amygdalina) USING ORAL MICRO OGANISMS

ABSTRACT

Throat infections are prevalent health concerns caused by bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. The increasing resistance of microbial pathogens to conventional antibiotics has led to the exploration of alternative remedies, particularly medicinal plants. This study investigates the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial efficacy of four selected medicinal plants: Curcuma longa (turmeric), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Citrus aurantiifolia (lime), and Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) against bacterial strains commonly associated with throat infections. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of the plants were prepared and subjected to phytochemical screening and antimicrobial susceptibility testing against Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus mutans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and essential oils, which exhibited varying degrees of antimicrobial activity. The aqueous extracts demonstrated high efficacy with poly herbal mixture showing significant inhibitory effects. These findings suggest that the selected medicinal plants have promising antimicrobial properties, supporting their potential use as natural alternatives in managing throat infections. Further research, including clinical trials, is recommended to validate their effectiveness and safety for human consumption