Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39937773›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Potential of methanol extracts of Nephelium lappaceum (Sapindaceae) and Hyphaene thebaica (Arecaceae) as adjuvants to enhance the efficacy of antibiotics against critical class priority bacteria.

Armel Jackson Seukep, Fula Mabel Tamambang, Valaire Yemene Matieta, Helene Gueaba Mbuntcha, Francis Desire Tatsinkou Bomba, Victor Kuete, Lucy M Ayamba Ndip

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Antimicrobial Resistance: The Answers.British journal of biomedical science · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Armel Jackson SeukepDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5501-3111
Fula Mabel TamambangDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon.
Valaire Yemene MatietaDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, West Region, Cameroon.
Helene Gueaba MbuntchaDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, West Region, Cameroon.
Francis Desire Tatsinkou BombaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon.
Victor KueteDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, West Region, Cameroon.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1070-1236
Lucy M Ayamba NdipDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Botanicals have shown promise in mitigating antibiotic resistance in bacteria. This study examined the efficacy of methanolic extracts from two food plants (Nephelium lappaceum and Hyphaene thebaica), alone and in combination with antibiotics, against critical class priority bacteria, including multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Escherichia coli. The herbals underwent testing using a 96-well microplate serial dilution technique before being analyzed for their effects on bacterial cell membrane integrity and H+-ATPase-mediated proton pumping. Phytochemical analysis was carried out using established techniques. The bioactive extracts displayed very good to weak antibacterial activities (128 ≤ MIC ≤ 2048 μg/mL). The bark, leaf, and peel extracts of N. lappaceum were found to be effective against all studied MDR bacteria. N. lappaceum leaf extract exhibited the best activity (128 ≤ MIC ≤ 1024 μg/mL on all studied MDR bacteria). Interestingly, all MBC/MIC ratios calculated were ≤ 4, suggesting bactericidal activities. N. lappaceum leaf extract has shown significant inhibition of bacterial H+-ATPase-mediated proton pumping and changes in the cell membrane integrity, suggesting possible modes of action. N. lappaceum (leaves and peels) and H. thebaica (fruits) extracts demonstrated a notable potential to synergize with tetracycline, vancomycin, imipenem, ciprofloxacin, and cefixime (up to 8-fold reduction of the antibiotic's MIC was recorded). N. lappaceum leaves and peels, and fruits of H. thebaica significantly improved the efficacy of all antibiotics tested against K. pneumoniae ATCC11296 at MIC/2. Similar effects were observed against P. aeruginosa PA01 and E. coli AG100, respectively, with leaves and peels of N. lappaceum. No antagonistic interactions were recorded. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, phenols, and saponins in all test extracts. The findings of this study are promising and suggest that N. lappaceum and H. thebaica can be used either for direct action on bacteria or to revitalize outdated antibiotics that are gradually losing their potency due to resistance.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsBacteriaPlant ExtractsDrug Resistance, Multiple, BacterialDrug SynergismMethanolMicrobial Sensitivity TestsPlant LeavesPseudomonas aeruginosaAnti-Bacterial AgentsMethanolPlant Extracts

Identifiers

PMID39937773
PMCPMC11819497

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.