Antimicrobial activity of the Maniltoa schefferi extracts

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Ethnobotany
• Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

• Maniltoa schefferi is a plant species with potential medicinal properties.
• Investigating the phytochemical constituents and biological activities of medicinal plants is crucial for drug discovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activities of various Maniltoa schefferi fractions.
• To identify potent fractions for potential therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

• Extraction of different plant parts (seed pods, seeds, stem heartwood, root bark, root heartwood, stem bark) using various solvents (petrol, dichloromethane, methanol, butanol).
• Screening of all extracted fractions for antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria.
• Screening of all extracted fractions for antifungal activity against various fungi.

Main Results:

• All tested fractions of Maniltoa schefferi demonstrated significant antibacterial activity.
• Petrol and dichloromethane fractions of seed pods and seeds (with coat) showed good antibacterial efficacy.
• Methanol fractions of stem heartwood, root bark, root heartwood, and stem bark, along with the butanol fraction of stem bark, exhibited notable antibacterial properties.
• No antifungal activity was observed in any of the Maniltoa schefferi fractions tested.

Conclusions:

• Maniltoa schefferi possesses broad-spectrum antibacterial properties.
• Specific fractions of Maniltoa schefferi hold promise as sources of novel antibacterial agents.
• The plant lacks antifungal activity, suggesting targeted applications for bacterial infections.