Plant Extracts: Potential Alternative Treatment for Bovine Mastitis Causing Pathogen Staphylococcus aureus

Bovine mastitis is a significant disease affecting dairy herds worldwide. Mastitis can be characterized by physical, chemical, and bacteriological changes in milk and various pathological changes in the glandular tissues. This disease can invariably affect the health status of cattle and eventually have a direct economic impact on the dairy industry. Mastitis can be caused by the interaction of pathogens and their environment, and one of the disease-causing pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, remains the leading cause of mastitis. Treatment is directed towards the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials. However, with the threat of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, alternative treatments are being explored. The use of plants with ethnoveterinary origins can be promising in the search for novel therapeutic regimens. This review focuses on various studies using plant extracts as a possible alternative treatment for this specific bovine-causing pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus. Several studies that were conducted will serve as preliminary data in the development of alternative treatments for bovine mastitis