A Comparative Screening of Medicinal Plant Extracts for Potential Antibacterial and Anticancer Properties

Abstract

The primary aim of the current study was to screen Cuscuta chinensis Lam., Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f.) Ettingsh, Clitoria ternatea L., Acacianilotica L., and Aristolochia littoralis Parodi plants on a comparison basis for their antibacterial and anticancer activities. To achievethis, aqueous, chloroform, and ethanol extracts of leaves and seeds were prepared and subjected to antibacterial activity againstmultidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. It was observed that aqueous and ethanol extractsof A. littoralis Parodi seeds were found to possess significant antibacterial activity against test bacteria compared to extracts obtainedfrom leaves. Further, phytochemical analysis was performed for the extracts of each plant to determine the phytoconstituents present.The phytochemical analysis of different extracts from the seeds of all five plants revealed the presence of metabolites such as alkaloids,steroids, carbohydrates, terpenoids, tannins, and resins. Consequently, the seed extracts were investigated for anticancer activity againsthuman skin carcinoma A431 cell lines by MTT assay. Here too, A. littoralis extracts showed significant anticancer activity and the otherfour plants had negligible or no activity. In conclusion, in the current study, it was determined that extracts of A. littoralis seeds, amongthe five medicinal plants screened, possessed both antibacterial and anticancer activity. Based on our previous study, the anticanceractivity of A. littoralis seed extract recorded in the current study is attributed to a bioactive principle termed naneoicglycolate.