In vitro Antibacterial Activity and Phytochemical Profiling of Selected Medicinal Plants

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of five Indian medicinal plants: Azadirachta indica, Mangifera indica, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Solanum trilobatum, and Piper betle, which were selected for their traditional medicinal use and therapeutic potential. Ethanolic extracts from the leaves were analyzed using standard qualitative methods. The antimicrobial efficacy of these extracts was evaluated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus through the well diffusion method, determining the minimum zone of inhibition concentration (MIC) using Mueller-Hinton agar. The findings indicated that antimicrobial activity was observed across all the plant extracts at different concentrations (100 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, and 12.5 mg/ml). The P. betle showed a notable inhibitory activity against E. coli (10 mm), while A. indica expressed an inhibitory effect against S. aureus (12 mm). The varying inhibitory effects observed are attributed to the diverse phytochemical components found in different plant species. Some plants demonstrated minimal inhibitory action against specific pathogens. The observed positive inhibitory effects in certain plants are traced to the presence of active bioactive compounds, which have potential applications as antimicrobial or therapeutic agents.