Bioactivity of Syzygium jambos methanolic extracts: Antibacterial activity and toxicity

Abstract

Methanol extracts from S. jambos leaves were tested for antimicrobial activity and toxicity. S. jambos leaf extract inhibited the growth of 4 of the 14 bacteria tested (29%). Both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial growths were inhibited by S. jambos leaf extract, although gram-positive bacteria appeared more susceptible. Two of the 10 gram-negative bacteria (20%) and 2 of the 4 gram-positive bacteria (50%) tested had their growths inhibited by the extract. The leaf extract also proved to be toxic in the Artemia franciscana bioassay, with a 48-h LC50 of 387.9 6 38.8 mg/mL, making it slightly more toxic than Mevinphos (505.3 6 37.7 mg/mL) and approximately 5-fold less toxic than potassium dichromate (80.4 6 4.3 mg/ mL). Whilst potassium dichromate’s LC50 remained constant across the 72-hour test period (24-h LC50, 86.3 6 5.1; 72-h LC50, 77.9 6 4.9), the extract and Mevinphos LC50 values decreased by 72 hours (87.0 6 11.3 mg/mL and 103.9 6 12.8 mg/mL, respectively), indicating their similar levels of toxicity in the assay.

Keywords: Antibacterial; medicinal plants; methanolic extracts; phytotoxicity; rose apple; Syzygium jambos