Abstract

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC EXTRACTS FROM BOEHRAVIA DIFFUSA

Amar Desai*, Rajanikant Ghotane and Sachinkumar Patil

ABSTRACT

Due to the use of Boehravia Diffusa. (Nyctaginaceae) in traditional medicine against inflammatory and infectious processes, this study evaluated the in Anti- antimicrobial potential and phytochemical composition of extracts from its roots and leaves. From leaves (L) and roots (R) different extracts were obtained (chloroform: CL and CR; ethyl acetate: EAL and EAR, methanol: ML and MR). The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the broth microdilution method to obtain the minimum inhibitory (MIC) and microbicidal (MMC) concentrations against 17 species, including bacteria and yeasts. Additionally, antimicrobial and combinatory effects with oxacillin were assessed against eight clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. All Boehravia Diffusa extracts showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, as they have inhibited all tested bacteria and yeasts. This activity seems to be related to the phytochemicals (flavonoid, terpenoids and saponins) detected into the extracts of Boehravia Diffusa. ChL and CL extracts were the most actives, with MIC less than 1 mg/mL against S. aureus, Bacillus subtilis, It is important to note that these concentrations are much lower than their 50% hemolysis concentration (HC50) values. Strong correlations were found between the average MIC against S. aureus and their phenolic and flavonoid content, reinforcing the possible role of these metabolite classes on the antimicrobial activity of Boehravia Diffusa derived extracts. Moreover, CL and CR showed the best inhibitory activity against S. aureus clinical isolates, they also showed synergistic action with all these strains (at least at one combined proportion). These results encourage the identification of active substances which could be used as lead(s) molecules in the development of new antimicrobial drugs.

Keywords: Plant-derived products, drug discovery, antibacterial agents, synergistic action, S. aureus.