Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of Various Extracts of Aerial Parts of <i>Rhanterium epapposum</i>

• Main Authors: Saravanan Rajendrasozhan, Hani El Moll, Mejdi Snoussi, Ramy M. Romeilah, Emad A. Shalaby, Kareem M. Younes, Hossam S. El-Beltagi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: Processes
• Subjects: Arfaj; plant extract; chemical content; antibacterial; antifungal
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/9/8/1351

<i>Rhanterium epapposum</i>, native to the Arabian Peninsula, is traditionally used to cure skin infections. The objective is to screen the phytochemical content and antimicrobial activity of aqueous, methanol and 80% methanol extracts of aerial parts of <i>R. epapposum</i>. The phytochemical screening of aqueous, methanolic, and 80% methanol extracts of <i>R. epapposum</i> was conducted using gas chromatographymass spectrometry. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were assessed by well diffusion and microdilution methods. Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol in all three extracts, whereas ethanol, 2-methoxy-, acetate; n-hexadecanoic acid; and 2,3-butanediol are present in higher amount exclusively in the methanol, 80% methanol and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of <i>R. epapposum</i>, respectively. The highest antibacterial activity was shown by the aqueous extract <i>S. aureus</i>, <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, <i>E. cloacae</i>, and <i>K. pneumoniae</i>, methanolic extract against <i>S. aureus</i>, methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i>, and <i>E. coli</i>, and 80% methanol extract against <i>S. epidermidis</i>, and <i>S. paucimobilis</i>. Interestingly, 80% methanol extracts showed the highest antifungal activity against <i>C. albicans</i>, <i>C. guillermondii</i>, <i>C. vaginalis</i>, <i>C. utilis</i>, and <i>C. tropicalis</i>. The aerial parts of <i>R. epapposum</i> showed broad-spread antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. Especially, the 80% methanol extract showed potent antifungal activity against all the tested fungal strains.