Abstract
Antibiotic resistance limits treatment efficacy and increases the morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with bacterial infections. Medicinal plants play a vital role in treating diseases and represent an important avenue for healthcare. This study aims to evaluate in vitro the antibacterial activity of essential oils from aromatic plants (Allium sativum L., Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and Eugenia caryophyllata) against bacterial strains resistant to antibiotics commonly used in the Kisangani region. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Kisangani and involved laboratory analysis at the Faculty of Science, University of Kisangani, of aromatic plants obtained from the Kisangani Central Market. Three trials were performed on each sample. Inhibitory activities were determined following hydrodistillation, and susceptibility testing was used to establish minimum inhibitory concentrations. ANOVA was used to compare the mean values obtained for the essential oils of the targeted aromatic plants. The study results pave the way for in vivo research to evaluate the clinical efficacy of these essential oils. They also enable the assessment of antibacterial activity when combined with conventional antibiotics, offering a means to explore synergistic effects and potentially reduce antibiotic dosages.
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