Comparative Analysis of Antimicrobial Activity of the Extracts of Senna alata and Glycyrrhiza glabra Against Bacterial Pathogens : Antimicrobial Activity of the Senna alata and Glycyrrhiza glabra Against Bacterial Pathogens

Maham Riaz; Azka Ahmad; Aqsa Tariq; Mahnoor Akmal

doi:10.54393/fbt.v6i1.229

Authors

Maham Riaz Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Azka Ahmad Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Aqsa Tariq Department of Biotechnology, Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan
Mahnoor Akmal Department of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/fbt.v6i1.229

Keywords:

Senna alata, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Antimicrobial Activity, Solvent Extracts, Gram-Positive Bacteria, Gram-Negative Bacteria

Abstract

The misuse of antibiotics has increased the resistance in bacteria against them, which has resulted in the need to develop other sources of antibiotics that should have the ability to kill microbes without giving them the chance to develop resistance against them. Objective: To evaluate and compare the antimicrobial activity of methanolic, ethanolic, and chloroform extracts of Senna alata and Glycyrrhiza glabra against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis, and to assess their potential as alternative agents for the management of bacterial infections. Methods: In the current study, antimicrobial activity of methanolic, ethanolic, and chloroform extracts of Senna alata and Glycyrrhiza glabra was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis. After the collection of plant samples, extracts were prepared by the cold maceration method in laboratory research using different solvents. Further antimicrobial effects of all extracts were determined by using the agar well diffusion assay. Results: In contrast, chloroform extracts showed variable activity; G. glabra chloroform extract exhibited notable activity against S. aureus (18 mm), while S. alata chloroform extract showed the lowest overall activity, indicating a species-dependent efficacy of non-polar extracts. Conclusions: Chloroform extracts had not shown remarkable activity against any pathogenic strains. According to the above results, it can be deduced that S. alata and G. glabra can be used to treat various bacterial infections in the future, and they have the potential to serve as complementary or alternative agents that could help reduce the over-reliance on conventional antibiotics.

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