The use of plants as sources for novel antimicrobial as well as antioxidant agents offers advantages. Plants are readily accessible and inexpensive, extracts or compounds from plant sources often demonstrate high level of biological activities. Previous studies have reported antibacterial and antifungal activities within the Fabaceae family that included Acacia species. This study aims to determine presence of antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, and the secondary metabolites of sequential solvent extracts (acetone, methanol, and acetic acid) of Acacia berlandieri and Acacia rigidula leaves. The antibacterial activity was investigated using a disc diffusion assay. The ferric thiocyanate method was used to assess the ability of all extracts to prevent oxidation. Qualitative phytochemical tests, NMR, IR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy were done to identify potential secondary metabolites. P. alcalifaciens (p < 0.001), E. faecalis (p < 0.01), S. aureus (p < 0.001), and Y. enterocolitica (p < 0.001) were significantly inhibited by A. rigidula extracts when compared to A. berlandieri extracts. A. rigidula’s acetone extract exhibited the significantly (p < 0.001) highest inhibition of peroxidation, 42%. Qualitative phytochemical tests showed positive results for presence of phenols, flavonoids, saponins, terpenes and tannins. NMR, IR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed chemical structures found in flavonoids, saponins, terpenes and tannins, supporting the results of qualitative phytochemical tests. A. berlandieri and A. rigidula leaf extracts have revealed presence of medicinally valued bioactive components. The results of this study provide a basis for further investigations of the A. rigidula leaf extracts. A. rigidula leaf extracts have the potential to serve as a source of novel antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Graphic abstract
The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance, as well as the evolution of new strains are of great concern to the global health community. The search for novel agents to combat the rapid evolution of bacterial pathogens becomes ever more important as current methods are proving ineffective. Plant species within the Fabacae family have been reported to exhibit antimicrobial activity; therefore, we hypothesize that these two species will display antibacterial properties. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the presence of antimicrobial activities, (2) qualitatively determine secondary metabolites of plant extracts from Acacia berlandieri (Guajillo) and Acacia rigidula (Blackbrush), (3) analyze extracts using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV‐Vis) to identify different secondary metabolites within a test sample, and (4) determine antioxidant activities within both plant species. Plant leaves were sequentially extracted using acetone, methanol, and acetic acid that were then subjected to susceptibility testing against nine microorganisms. Results provided evidence of antimicrobial activity from the crude extracts of both species. The activity was significantly higher (p<0.001) from the leaves of species A. rigidula. Among the nine microorganisms, two gram‐negative and two gram‐positive bacteria were susceptible. Qualitative phytochemical testing revealed important secondary metabolites: phenols, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, and tannins. Each of which have been shown to possess antimicrobial properties and exert different modes of action. NMR, IR, and UV‐Vis spectroscopy revealed the basic structures within our unknown samples that are commonly found in flavonoids, saponins, and tannins, reinforcing the results of phytochemical testing. Preliminary results revealed some antioxidant activity within selected A. rigidula extracts. Analysis of the leaves extracts of A. berlandieri and A. rigidula have revealed the presence of medicinally valued bioactive components. This study confirms the efficacy of selected plant extracts as natural antimicrobials and suggests the possibility of employing them in drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by the test organisms.
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