Antimicrobial Efficacy of Rhazya stricta and Azadirachta indica Against Foodborne Pathogens | InformativeBD

Ghalia Saleem Aljedani, and NagwaThabet Elsharawy, from the different institute of Saudi Arabia and Egypt . wrote a Research Article about, Antimicrobial Efficacy of Rhazya stricta and Azadirachta indica Against Foodborne Pathogens. Entitled, Comparative assessment of Rhazya stricta and Azadirachta indica methanolic leaf extracts for their antimicrobial efficacy against the selected foodborne pathogens. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences (IJB). an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

To address the rising challenge of resistance to traditional antibiotics and to bolster microbial management in the dominions of food safety and antibiotic effectiveness, recent explorations have been conducted into the bioactive phytochemicals, utilizing eco-friendly methodologies. This study focuses on the potential utility of Rhazya stricta and Azadirachta indica, indigenous plant species of Saudi Arabia, in combatting foodborne bacteria across the pharmaceutical and food sectors. The dried leaf powders of both plants underwent methanol extraction, evaporation via a rotary evaporator, and subsequent dissolving in a 1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution. The bioactive constituents were analyzed through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), revealing a higher presence of bioactive compounds (32 compounds) in A. indica compared to R. stricta (15 compounds). R. stricta’s methanolic extract demonstrated superior efficacy against the tested bacterial strains (Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli) compared to A. indica. These findings were compared against six antibiotics: cefoxitin (FOX), cephalothin (KF), cotrimoxazole (TS), gentamicin (GM), augmentin (AUG), and ampicillin (AP). Furthermore, both plant extracts exhibited inhibitory effects on microbial lipase, amylase, and protease enzymes. In conclusion, further investigations at the molecular and biochemical levels are warranted in future studies to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying the antibacterial efficacy of these naturally occurring plant species.

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Introduction

In the past two decades, there has been a resurgence of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, a concern that initially emerged in the 1960s. This global issue has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health organizations to prioritize the battle against human microbial pathogens, particularly those acquired in healthcare settings, and to prioritize the development of new drugs for their treatment. Given that these bacteria exhibit resistance to multiple conventional medications, it is crucial to explore the therapeutic potential of various medicinal and herbal plants (Beigomi et al., 2021). 

The study of medicinal plants for the discovery of new treatment modalities, characterized by reduced side effects and enhanced economic value, has gained significant importance worldwide (Tnah et al., 2019; Aware et al., 2022; Jităreanu et al., 2023). Current statistics indicate that herbal medicines are being utilized in hospitals and clinics at a rate exceeding 30% (Gajula and Nanjappan, 2021; Mukne et al., 2022). While antibiotics are invaluable for treating numerous human diseases, their excessive use contributes to the emergence of microbial resistance.

Consequently, scientists have directed their research efforts toward various components of medicinal plants to identify novel plant-based drugs (Pan et al., 2020; Xiao et al., 2022). In the local setting, the use of medicinal plants to treat foodborne illnesses has grown significantly because of two main reasons: a) Saudi Arabia has a huge variety of plants, but we still don't know much about how they are used in the region; and b) Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision includes a shared interest in exploring and exploiting medicinal plants for a variety of purposes (Alharbi, 2017).

Rhazya stricta (Decne.), a member of the subfamily Rauwolfioideae in the family Apocynaceae, is geographically distributed across Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Iraq, Oman, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia (Shaer, 2019). In Saudi Arabia, it is commonly known by its local names, "Espand" or "Harmal." Harmal has been traditionally used in the Middle Eastern region for its medicinal properties in the treatment of various ailments (Fazeli-Nasab et al., 2021). R. stricta is a small perennial shrub characterized by its toxic nature, persistent foliage, small size, and upright growth habit, with smooth, non-hairy leaves (Ribeiro-Santos et al., 2018). The seed oil of R. stricta is considered a potentially rich source of d-tocopherol, a major form of vitamin E (Shehzad et al., 2018). 

People have used R. stricta and its metabolites to treat a variety of diseases, including cancer, skin disorders, hypertension, rheumatism, sore throat, syphilis, and fever (Ullah, 2012). Previous studies have demonstrated that various parts of R. stricta contain a diverse array of phytochemical compounds, such as terpenes, alkaloids, and flavonoids (Albeshri et al., 2021).

Hassan et al. (2023) investigated the antibacterial efficacy of five solvent extracts, namely aqueous alkaloids, non-aqueous alkaloids, organic alkaloids, organic non-alkaloids, and full aqueous extracts, against a range of drug-resistant pathogens. Their findings indicated that the organic alkaloid extract was the most effective against Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Furthermore, the ethanolic extract of R. stricta fruit exhibited potent antimicrobial activity (Sultana and Khalid, 2010). Methanol and chloroform extracts of R. stricta roots were found to possess antibacterial and antifungal properties against E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, S. aureus, and Candida albicans (Bashir et al., 1994). Additionally, the aqueous extract of R. stricta demonstrated antimicrobial activity against S. aureus (Ghafari et al., 2021).

Azadirachta indica (L.), commonly known as neem, is a tropical evergreen tree native to the Indian subcontinent (Aneesa and Gayathr, 2016). People have highly valued neem for its various benefits, which include its use as an agricultural pesticide and as a remedy for many common human disorders. Initially, A. indica garnered interest for its potential as a non-toxic tool for controlling agricultural infections. Azadirachtin, a prominent constituent of the neem plant, has gained popularity as a biopesticide (Kilani-Morakchi et al., 2021; Wylie and Merrell, 2022). The neem tree has been extensively used in traditional Indian medicine due to its therapeutic properties, including antipyretic, antacid, antiparasitic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities (Yadav et al., 2023). Various parts of the neem tree, such as the leaves, bark, seeds, and oil, have been utilized for medicinal purposes.

Researchers have extensively studied A. indica's antimicrobial activity. The leaf extract of A. indica has shown efficacy against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including E. coli, S. aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhimurium (Ghosh et al., 2024). Neem leaves contain compounds such as nimbin, nimbidin, and quercetin, which exhibit antimicrobial properties (Nagini et al., 2024). The oil extract of A. indica has also demonstrated antimicrobial activity against various bacteria and fungi (Aladejana et al., 2024). In addition, oil A. indica has been used topically for the treatment of skin infections and has shown potential in combating drug-resistant bacteria (Wylie and Merrell, 2022).

Several studies have investigated the antibacterial potential of A. indica against drug-resistant pathogens. For instance, a study conducted by Nagrale and Kamble (2022) evaluated the antibacterial activity of A. indica leaf extract against multidrug-resistant strains of E. coli and S. aureus. The results showed significant inhibition of bacterial growth by A. indica extract. Al-Sarraj (2021) reported the antibacterial activity of A. indica against drugresistant strains of S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. The mechanism of action of A. indica antimicrobial activity is multifaceted. It involves disruption of bacterial cell membranes, inhibition of bacterial adhesion, interference with microbial enzymes, and modulation of the host immune response (Sarkar et al., 2016). A. indica compounds have also been found to affect bacterial biofilm formation, which is crucial for the survival and persistence of drug-resistant bacteria (Gajula and Nanjappan, 2021).

While various studies have shown antimicrobial activity in R. stricta and A. indica, further research is necessary to fully understand their potential as alternative treatments for drug-resistant bacterial infections. Clinical trials and comprehensive studies on their safety, efficacy, and optimal dosage are necessary before they can be considered mainstream therapies.

Additionally, it is crucial to promote responsible and sustainable use of medicinal plants to ensure their long-term availability and conservation of biodiversity. We undertook this investigation to explore the potential antimicrobial properties of the methanolic leaf extracts of R. stricta and A. indica against various clinical strains of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including those associated with foodborne illnesses, considering the adverse consequences of prolonged antibiotic use, such as the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the ensuing challenges in the clinical management of infections. We will also determine the ability of both plant extracts to inhibit microbial enzymes (amylase, protease, and lipase).

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