Work

Antimicrobial Prospects of Domesticated Ornamental Leaf Extracts Against Skin Pathogens

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The increasing popularity of natural plant-based treatments offers an alternative to conventional therapies for various cutaneous infections due to their potential efficacy and lower side effects. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of leaf extracts from five selected domesticated ornamental plants against pathogens implicated in acne vulgaris and dermatophytosis. The selected plant leaves were successively macerated with solvents of increasing polarity and the extracts were underwent qualitative phytochemical analysis. The antimicrobial activities were evaluated using the broth microdilution method. Extracts with high antimicrobial activity (MIC≤128µg/mL) were subsequently tested for cytotoxicity on BJ fibroblast cells, and the selectivity index (SI) was calculated. Extraction yields were highest in Bougainvilea glabra (72.04%) and lowest in Plumeria obtusa (21.6%). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, phenols, quinolones, saponins, and coumarins, with phenols found in all extracts. The aqueous extract of Alamanda cathartica (AC-Aq) and the methanol extract of Ixora coccinea (IC-Met) showed the most potent antibacterial activities against P. acnes and S. epidermidis, with MIC values of 128μg/mL and 64μg/mL, respectively. Antifungal activity was most pronounced in AC-Aq against T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum, with MIC values of 32μg/mL. The six active extracts revealed varying degrees of toxicity, with the aqueous extract of P. obtusa (PO-Aq) exhibited the least cytotoxicity (CC50: 713.31±3.71 μg/mL), while IC-Aq was the most cytotoxic (CC50: 116.72±2.28 μg/mL). AC-Aq demonstrated the highest SI values, indicating effective antimicrobial activity at non-toxic concentrations.

Source: INDONESIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY

DOI: 10.22146/ijp.15057

Authors: Nurshahira Ezzany Shamshul Hakimi, Aliff Zulkarnain Zaini, Mohd Faiz Mustaffa

Institutions: Government of Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA System, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Language: English

Topic: Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity

Subfield: Food Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $200