Antimicrobial Activity, Cytotoxicity, and Qualitative Phytochemical Composition of Aqueous and Methanolic Leaf Extracts of Physalis Peruviana L. (Solanaceae)
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Date
2023
Authors
Njoroge, Samuel M
Mbaria, James M
Aboge, Gabriel O.
Moriasi, Gervason A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Journal of Phytopharmacology
Abstract
Background: The high morbidity and mortality associated with microbial infections and the
ineffectiveness of conventional antibiotics due to inappropriate use and resistance warrant alternative
stratagems. Aim: We investigated the antimicrobial, cytotoxicity, and qualitative phytochemical
composition of the aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Physalis peruviana L. (Solanaceae) based on
its ethnomedicinal information. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was investigated using
the disk diffusion technique. The brine shrimp lethality assay method was used to determine the
cytotoxicity of the study extracts on brine shrimp nauplii. Qualitative phytochemistry of the study extracts
was performed using standard procedures. Results: The two extracts did not possess antimicrobial activity
against P. aeruginosa and were either inactive or slightly inactive against the other microbes at
concentrations of ≤ 50 µg/ml. Notably, the aqueous extract exhibited high to very high activities against
E. coli and S. aureus and very high to remarkable activities against B. cereus. The methanolic extract
showed remarkable activity at concentrations of ≥200 µg/ml against E. coli, moderate to very high against
S. aureus, high to very high against B. cereus, and moderate to high against C. albicans. The aqueous
extract's minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were 50 μg/ml (E. coli and B. cereus), 100 μg/ml (S.
aureus), and 200 μg/ml (C. albicans). The minimum bactericidal concentration concentrations (MBCs) of
the aqueous extract were 100 μg/ml (E. coli and B. cereus), 200 μg/ml (S. aureus), while the minimum
fungicidal concentration (MFC) for C. albicans was 400 μg/ml. The MICs of the methanolic extract were
25 μg/ml for E. coli, S. aureus, and B. cereus and 100 μg/ml for C. albicans, and the MBCs were 100
μg/ml for E. coli, S. aureus, and B. cereus, and the MFC for C. albicans was 200 μg/ml. The aqueous was
non-toxic, while the methanolic extract was slightly toxic to brine shrimp nauplii, indicating their relative
safety. Various phytochemicals were detected in the study extracts, depicting broad pharmacologic
activity, including antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: The aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of P.
peruviana may serve as a source of efficacious and safe novel antimicrobial agents upon further evaluation.
Description
Article
Keywords
Disk diffusion technique, Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, Minimum Bacterial/Fungicidal Concentration (MBC/MFC), Phytochemicals
Citation
Njoroge, S. M., Mbaria, J. M., Aboge, G. O., & Moriasi, G. A. (2023). Antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, and qualitative phytochemical composition of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Physalis peruviana L.(Solanaceae).