In vitro antimicrobial efficacy of Cassia alata (Linn.) leaves, stem, and root extracts against cellulitis causative agent Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Background Cellulitis is a common skin disease encountered in medical emergencies in hospitals. It can be treated using a combination of antibiotics therapy; however, the causative agent Staphylococcus aureus has been reported to develop resistance towards the currently used antibiotics. Therefore, the search for more alternative herbal origin antimicrobial agents is critical. Aim: In this study, maceration and Soxhlet extraction of the whole plant of Cassia alata Linn. (leaves, roots, and stem) were performed using four solvents with different polarities, namely n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and distilled water. The crude extracts were screened using agar well diffusion, colorimetric broth microdilution, grid culture and bacterial growth curve analysis against Staphylococcus aureus. The phytochemicals in the crude extracts were identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Results Agar-well diffusion analysis revealed that extraction using ethyl acetate showed the largest inhibition zone with an average diameter of 15.30 mm (root Soxhlet extract) followed by 14.70 mm (leaf Soxhlet extract) and 13.70 mm (root maceration extract). The lowest minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentration in root Soxhlet extract using ethyl acetate was 0.313 and 0.625 µg µL−1, respectively. Our study proved that crude extract of the plant suppressed the growth of S. aureus as evidenced from a significant regression extension (p < 0.06, p = 0.00003) of lag phase for 6 h after the treatment with increased concentration. Based on the GC–MS analysis, 88 phytochemicals consist of fatty acids, esters, alkanes, phenols, fatty alcohols, sesquiterpenoids and macrocycle that possibly contributed to the antimicrobial properties were identified, 32 of which were previously characterized for their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Conclusion Ethyl acetate crude extract was better than the other investigated solvents. The root and stem of C. alata showed significant antimicrobial efficacy against S. aureus in this study. The remaining 56 out of 88 phytochemicals of the plant should be intensively studied for more medicinal uses.

Natural Antimicrobials Promote the Anti-Oxidative Inhibition of COX-2 Mediated Inflammatory Response in Primary Oral Cells Infected with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Enterococcus faecalis

“…For instance, the extracts of Salvadora persica exhibit a significant antibacterial effect against S. aureus, and are considered an efficient intervention against this pathogen [9]. Most recently, from 88 extracts of Cassia alata (leaves, roots and stem), 32 displayed strong antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in S. aureus infections [10]. Dental plaque in pet dogs also serves as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes, with humans and dogs being in close contact posing a high risk of transmission [11].…”

Phytochemical screening and antifungal activity of Cassia alata (Linn.) crude leaf extracts

“…The extracts from plants have demonstrated a significant level of activity against important microbial pathogens because of their numerous phytochemicals. The risen trends in antibiotic resistance, serious side effects, costs of hospital care, and the high costs of developing synthetic drugs are driving the focus to natural medicine from plants (Fatmawati et al, 2020;Samson et al, 2021;Toh et al, 2023). In the current study, the percentage yield (%) of crude aqueous, n-hexane, chloroform, ethanol, and methanol leaf extracts of Cassia alata was 4.6 g (5.6%), 25.5 g (5.7%), 7.0 g (1.6%), 21.3 g (4.8%), and 12.4 g (2.8%), respectively (Table 1).…”

“…Further, antimicrobial resistance contributes to an increase in health care costs owing to longer duration of illness, the requirement for additional tests, use of more expensive drugs as well as intensive care (WHO, 2020). Thus, there is a need to develop alternative, efficient, safe, and costeffective natural medicines from plants (Toh et al, 2023). Over the last decades, human dependence on natural products from plants for maintaining health has increased dramatically (Samson et al, 2021).…”

Indonesian Euphorbiaceae: Ethnobotanical Survey, In Vitro Antibacterial, Antitumour Screening and Phytochemical Analysis of Euphorbia atoto

“…None of the n-hexane extracts was effective as an antimicrobial agent, but it is noteworthy that the ethyl acetate extract exhibited more favourable results in comparison to other solvents. The advantageous use of ethyl acetate as an extraction solvent has been mentioned in previous publications [47,48]. a H = n-hexane, C = chloroform, E = ethyl acetate, MW = aqueous methanolic extract.…”