Selected Coastal Plants as Potential Treatment for Pneumonia Disease: Determination of Their Phytochemicals and Antibacterial Activity Against some Pneumonia Bacteria

Abstract

Pneumonia is a respiratory infection caused by microorganisms including bacteria. Current treatment with antibiotics leads to bacterial resistance. An alternative treatment involves utilizing coastal plants. In this study, five parts of eleven coastal plants underwent phytochemicals screening and investigated for their antibacterial activity against five pneumonia bacteria. Cold extraction was performed using hexane and methanol, successively. Qualitative phytochemicals screening and antibacterial testing were done using several reagents and agar well diffusion method, respectively. The results revealed that almost all hexane and methanolic fractions from coastal plants showed antibacterial activity, except Vitex rotundifolia leaves. The highest activity was shown by hexane fraction of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa leaves. Among the methanolic fractions, Syzigium grande twigs exhibited the highest antibacterial property. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids in all active fractions, potentially correlating with their antibacterial activity. In summary, some selected coastal plants have the potential to act as anti-pneumonia bacteria agents.