Evaluating Secondary Metabolites from Extracts of Mimusops elengi to Assess its Antimicrobial Activity Against Human Pathogens

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to determine the possible phytochemical components from the methanolic, ethanolic and chloroform extracts of Mimusops elengi. Among the phytochemical screening of these extracts, methanolic extract showed that the whole plant was rich in alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds and saponins. The study was extended by analysing the potent bioactive compounds in various extracts of Mimusops elengi using GC/MS and analyzing their functional groups using FTIR to establish the antibacterial and antifungal properties of the plant extract against bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and fungal pathogens (Candida albicans), for which the M. elengi plant has been significantly used as a multidrug constituent. The major compounds identified by GC/MS were cis pinen-3-ol, undecanoic acid, 3 carene, citronellol, hexadecenoic acid, caryophyllene, dodecanedioic acid and vitamin A aldehyde. These compounds have different therapeutic and antimicrobial effects. The methanolic extracts of the plant were found to be more effective against these two bacteria (S. aureus and E. coli) and fungi (C. albicans) compared with the ethanolic and chloroform extracts. The findings and results of this paper could help to evaluate and assess the therapeutic multipurpose use of M. elengi more rationally and can create an awareness of the need for in situ conservation of this most wanted medicinal plant.