This present study investigated the antimicrobial potential of the leaf and stem extracts of Gongronema latifolium against some selected wound-associated pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumonae and Candida albican using the punch-hole agar diffusion method. The outcome of the study show that neither the aqueous nor the methanolic leaf and stem extracts of Gongronema latifolium showed any inhibitory activity against the bacterial and fungal isolates at all the concentrations (200, 150, 100 50 and 25 mg/mL) tested either singly or combined; whereas the positive control was effective against all of them; with zones diameter of inhibition ranging between 18-24 mm (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), 17-23 mm (Escherichia coli), 15-23 mm (Proteus mirabilis), 18-22 mm (Staphylococcus auerus) and 17-24 mm (C. albicans). On the other hand, as expected, the negative control (distilled water) did not show any zone of inhibition. The antibacterial activity of the positive control was statistically significant at P value <0.05 when compared against the extracts and negative control. Although the antimicrobial potential of extracts of G. latifolium have been previously demonstrated against various clinical isolates, the findings in this current study did not support claims made by different researchers in previously studies. All the test isolates were found to be resistant to the extracts. Lack of inhibitory activity by extracts of G. latifolium growing in Irolu, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun state in this present study is plausible and would require further investigation. Due to differences in topographical factors of various geographical locations, nutrient concentrations of the soil, chemical composition, age and time of harvest of the plant, extraction method as well as method used for antimicrobial study; it is therefore important that scientific protocols be clearly identified, adequately followed and reported.
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