Isolation, Phytochemical Analysis and Antibacterial Activity of Rumex acetosella Plant

Abstract

Human beings are always prone to infectious diseases. Human pathogens are of various types. These could be a virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and other parasites and cause various infections. Several deaths occur due to these infections every year. Despite various drugs available in market these pathogens still are potential threat due to their variability and increasing antibiotic resistance. It is a need of time to develop new drugs and plant isolates to cope with these infections. The role of medicinal plants has been known for centuries. The present paper analyzes the biologically active compounds present in the plant leaves, anti-bacterial activity, and cytotoxicity of the ethanolic and pure extracts of a traditional plant, Rumex acetosella. Preliminary phytochemical screening, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and GCMS was done to determine the chemical makeup and biologically active constituents present in the plant leaves. Antibacterial activity was tested through the well diffusion method and broth dilution method to determine the MICs. The RBC hemolysis assay was performed to test the cytotoxicity of the extracts at different concentrations. The present analysis revealed the existence of pharmacologically active constituents such as 1,3,5-Triazine, 2,4,6-tris(cyanomethyl)-, 4-[4-Aminopentylamino]-2- methoxy-9-methylacridine and Undecanoic acid, 10-bromo, etc. in Rumex acetosella leaves which are responsible for different therapeutic effects. Ethanolic extract showed antibacterial potential against S. aureus with MIC 800ug/ml but less sensitivity towards E. coli. Pure extract was potent against both S. aureus and E. coli with MICs 10ul and 20ul respectively. RBC hemolysis revealed that ethanolic extract was less toxic as compared to pure extract. In conclusion, R. acetosella extracts exhibited significant antibacterial potential and less toxicity.