Preliminary Phytochemicals And Antimicrobial Activity Of Leaves Of Petrea Volubilis L.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and conduct a phytochemical analysis of leaf extracts from Petrea volubilis L., a plant belonging to the Verbenaceae family, using four solvents: Hexane, Acetone, Ethanol, and Aqueous. Antimicrobial testing was performed using the agar disc diffusion method against four pathogens: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus flavus. Among the extracts, the ethanol extract exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity against E. coli with an 18 mm zone of inhibition, while P. aeruginosa showed the smallest zone in the acetone extract (17 mm). For fungal pathogens, the ethanol extract demonstrated the highest antifungal activity against A. flavus (16 mm), and the acetone extract showed significant inhibition against C. albicans (12 mm). The hexane extract showed moderate antimicrobial activity, while the aqueous extract did not exhibit effective inhibition against the tested pathogens. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, quinones, reducing sugars, amino acids, essential oils, and carbohydrates. Additionally, Petrea volubilis has traditionally been used in herbal medicine for its purported anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties. The leaves are believed to aid in the treatment of various ailments, such as wounds, infections, and digestive disorders. The results underscore the potential of Petrea volubilis as an effective herbal remedy and a promising source of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of various infectious diseases.