Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTIFUNGAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF MITRACARPUS HIRTUS (RUBIACEAE)

Diedhiou Adama*, Seck Insa, Ciss Ismaïla, Ndoye Samba Fama, Ba Lalla Aïcha and Seck Matar

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Abstract

The growth of antimicrobial resistance is increasingly outpacing the rate of discovery of new molecules active against germs causing public health problems. Nowadays, one of World Health Organization’s strategic objectives is to strengthen the knowledge base for active management of Traditional Medicine. Strengthening the Pharmacopoeia of Medicinal Plants at the national or even subregional level can contribute to the achievement of this objective. It is in this context that we were interested in Mitracarpus hirtus, a plant that has long been used by practitioners of traditional medicine in Senegal, to treat skin diseases. This plant is also very well known in other West African countries but is not yet published in the West African Pharmacopoeia of Medicinal Plants. This work is part of a phytochemical characterization project for a study of the variability of phytochemical properties. Thus, this study aims to perform a phytochemical screening and evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activities of Mitracarpus hirtus leaf extracts, collected in the region of Thiès. The cyclohexane and ethyl acetate extracts showed a biological activity profile toward reference strains of Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a fungicidal activity (Candida kruzei). MICs from 0.058 to 7.500 mg/mL were recorded for the different extracts, the best antimicrobial activity were observed with the ethyl acetate fraction (MIC of 0.058 mg/mL) on S. aureus. The ethyl acetate fraction has also shown the most interesting antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 1.403 mg/mL.

Keywords: Mitracarpus hirtus, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, antioxidant activity