Effect of Aqueous Extracts of Leaves and Fruits of Ziziphus Spina-christi on Bacterial Isolates

Aseel Hadi  Alkam; Mohammed Abbas  Fayidh

doi:10.30526/39.3.4358

Authors

Aseel Hadi Alkam Department of Biology, Collage of Education for Pure Science (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4846-2294
Mohammed Abbas Fayidh Department of Biology, Collage of Education for Pure Science (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7764-3715

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30526/39.3.4358

Keywords:

Ziziphus spina-christi, Aqueous extract, Antibacterial activity, Phytochemistry, GC-MS

Abstract

Because of the growing prevalence of pathogenic bacteria that are resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics, many people are turning to medicinal plants for natural antimicrobials. Ziziphus spina-christi has been traditionally used for treating infections, but it still needs scientific studies to validate on its efficacy against bacterial pathogens. To establish scientifically the efficacy of the extract of Ziziphus spina-christi on different pathogenic bacteria, this study was carried out. The antibacterial activity of the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of both the leaf extract and the fruit extract of Ziziphus spina-christi was measured using agar well diffusion methods against the pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Staphylococcus aureus at Different Concentrations. The data were analyzed statistically using a One Way ANOVA followed by LSD testing at a significance level of P ≤ 0.05. Qualitative phytochemical screening was also performed, and GC-MS analysis of the aqueous leaf extract only was performed. The leaf's extract was seen to be significantly more effective than the fruit's extract concerning their antibacterial properties; however, it was found that the leaves' extracts were all concentration-dependent. The leaf's extracts that used alcoholic solvents had a greater effect than those made using aqueous solvents did. Phytochemical screening of the leaves showed the presence of many of the plant's important compounds, including a broad range of phenolic, flavonoid, tannin, and terpenoid compounds. The GC-MS analysis of the aqueous extract from the leaves showed there to be several active molecules, the most abundant of which was Cyclohexanecarbonitrile, 1-(1-piperidinyl). Ziziphus spina-christi has a high potential to be a natural source for new antibacterial agents; as such, it will offer many possibilities in future pharmaceutical development

Author Biographies

Aseel Hadi Alkam, Department of Biology, Collage of Education for Pure Science (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.

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Mohammed Abbas Fayidh, Department of Biology, Collage of Education for Pure Science (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.

Assistant Professor, University of Baghdad, College of Education for Pure Science (Ibn-AL-Haitham, Dept. of Biology. Areas of interest are Microbiology, Biotechnology, Pharmacognosy & Bio remediation of toxic Substances.

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