Seasonal Variation in the Secondary Metabolites and Antimicrobial Activity of Plantago major L. from Egyptian Heterogenic Habitats

Abstract

Egyptian Journal of Botany http://ejbo.journals.ekb.eg/ 20 P LANTAGO major has been used to treat various diseases since ancient times. The present study aimed to assess the seasonal and habitat-related variations in the secondary metabolite content and antimicrobial activity of P. major leaf extracts. Eight habitats were selected for sampling plants in four seasons. The phytochemical screening of the ethanolic and chloroform extracts of P. major leaves from different habitats in different seasons showed the presence of cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, and phenolics. The highest cardiac glycoside and total flavonoid contents were observed in urban habitats and cultivated crops during winter, whereas the highest total phenolic content was observed in fallow lands during summer. Compounds separated and identified using high-performance liquid chromatography included phenolics such as ellagic acid, catechol, resorcinol, gallic acid, and phloroglucinol and flavonoids such as apigenin, luteolin, chrysoeriol, rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, and avicularin. The methanolic extracts of P. major leaves showed higher antimicrobial activity than aqueous and ethanolic extracts; the methanolic extract of P. major leaves from canal banks showed the highest activity against P. aeruginosa, followed by that from orchards against S. aureus. The results suggest that P. major contains phenolics and flavonoids that have potential medicinal applications. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extract differed with habitat. Therefore, the present study confirms previously reported findings and indicates that the phytochemical contents and antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts differed with environmental factors (habitat and season). In future studies, the phytochemicals with antimicrobial activity need to be extracted, separated, purified, identified, and tested as pure or mixed compounds.

Antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of Plantago major leaves against Pseudomonas aeruginosa from burn infections

“…The 100 mg/mL concentration of ethanol extract had the highest inhibitory effect for P. aeruginosa with 22.6 mm inhibition zone. These results are in agreement with previous reports [25,26]. A study in Saudi Arabia demonstrated that P. aeruginosa was moderately sensitive to the ethanolic extract (95%) of P. major leaves with inhibition zone diameter of 12.5 mm [27].…”

Functional Electrospun Nanofibers Loaded with Plantago Major L. Extract for Potential Use in Cutaneous Wound Healing

“…For this reason, the freeze-dried hydroalcoholic extract was evaluated by HPLC and the chromatogram is presented in Figure 1. Plantago major L. extract is rich in tannins, flavonoids, caffeic acid, and other substances that demonstrate its efficacy to be used on skin wounds, which generates its antimicrobial and antifungal action [25].…”

“…The activity is mainly attributed to its phytochemical components such as polysaccharides, lipids, derivatives of caffeic acid, flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, and terpenoids, offering anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, immunomodulatory, anti-ulcer and antibiotic capacities. These pharmacological properties make it a promising phytochemical for biomedical and regenerative applications [24][25][26][27][28][29].…”

Antimicrobial and Other Biomedical Properties of Extracts from Plantago major, Plantaginaceae

“…Furthermore, methanolic extracts of Plantago major leaves showed higher antibacterial activity than aqueous and alcoholic extracts in studies conducted by Soliman et al (2022). A methanolic extract of Plantago major leaves from canal banks displayed the highest efficacy against P. aeruginosa , followed by an extract from orchards against Staphylococcus aureus [ 56 ]. Plantago major leaf extracts can inhibit microorganisms because they contain flavonoid components, phenols, tannins, and terpenoids, which all function together synergistically.…”