Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF PLANTAGO MAJOR EXTRACTS AGAINST MULTIDRUGRESISTANT PATHOGENS

Dr. S. Shyamkiran Singh*

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Abstract

The global rise in multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens necessitates the search for novel antimicrobial agents. Plantago major (Common plantain), a medicinal plant used in traditional remedies, has demonstrated potential pharmacological properties. This study aims to investigate the phytochemical constituents of P. major leaf extracts and evaluate their antimicrobial efficacy against MDR bacterial strains, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Using ethanol and aqueous solvents, extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening, GC-MS analysis, and antimicrobial testing via agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. The findings revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and iridoid glycosides. The ethanol extract exhibited the most pronounced antimicrobial activity, particularly against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, with MIC values ranging from 25 to 100 μg/mL. The results suggest that P. major contains potent phytochemicals with the potential to combat MDR pathogens, highlighting its promise as a source of natural antimicrobial agents.

Keywords: Plantago major, multidrug resistance, antimicrobial activity, phytochemicals, natural products.