Debidatta Singhsamanta, Shakti Rath, Saumya Ranjan Das

Phytochemical and Antibacterial Evaluation of Pterygota Alata Leaf Extracts Against CSOM Bacteria

Introduction

Phytochemical and antibacterial evaluation of pterygota alata leaf extracts against csom bacteria. Evaluate Pterygota alata leaf extracts for phytochemical content & antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) CSOM bacteria. Discover its potential as a natural alternative.

Abstract

The increasing rates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms among patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) have caused treatment procedures to become more complex, raising healthcare costs and significantly increasing the time of recovery. Since medicinal plants are the natural repositories for bio-active and secondary metabolites, they are an excellent alternative to antibiotics to combat MDR bacterial strains. This study aims to assess the antibacterial activity and the presence of phytochemicals in the aqueous and methanol leaf extracts of the Indian deciduous tree Pterygota alata against 5 MDR strains of CSOM-causing bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Fresh P. alata leaves were harvested, dried, and extracted with methanol and water. Qualitative and quantitative assessments demonstrated the detection of primary and secondary metabolites. The antibacterial activities were determined using the agar well diffusion method, including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), dose-response, and time-kill studies against CSOM bacterial isolates. Most phytochemicals, except proteins, were present in moderate to high concentrations in aqueous and methanol extracts. The methanol extracts had higher levels of phenolics (85.6 mg/g), flavonoids (42.3 mg/g), tannins (40.8 mg/g), and saponins (36.9 mg/g). Steroids were minimal in both extracts, while alkaloids were moderately present. All extracts showed significant antibacterial activity, particularly the methanol extracts against S. aureus and P. mirabilis (ANOVA, p ≤ 0.05). The effect was concentration-dependent, with rapid bactericidal action observed at higher concentrations. It was further confirmed with one-way ANOVA followed post-hoc Tukey test, there were significant differences among different treatments (p ≤ 0.05), supporting the reliability of the results. Therefore, it can be concluded from this study that methanolic leaf extracts of P. alata can be used as an alternative or complementary antibacterial agent against MDR CSOM infections.

Review

The study effectively addresses a critical public health challenge: the escalating rates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms in chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) by exploring *Pterygota alata* leaf extracts as a potential natural alternative. The research design is robust, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative phytochemical assessments alongside a comprehensive array of antibacterial assays, including agar well diffusion, minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations, dose-response, and time-kill studies. The investigation against five clinically relevant MDR CSOM bacterial strains is highly pertinent. The significant antibacterial activity observed, particularly for methanol extracts against *Staphylococcus aureus* and *Proteus mirabilis*, supported by appropriate statistical rigor (ANOVA, Tukey test), firmly establishes the plant's therapeutic potential. The phytochemical analysis revealed a rich composition, with methanol extracts exhibiting notable concentrations of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins – compounds widely recognized for their antimicrobial properties. This correlation between the identified secondary metabolites and the observed dose-dependent, rapid bactericidal action provides a strong mechanistic rationale for the plant's efficacy. While the abstract confidently states the detection of "primary and secondary metabolites," the quantitative details provided primarily focus on the latter, which is a minor point for clarity but does not detract from the overall strength of the findings. The thorough antibacterial evaluation provides compelling evidence for *P. alata*'s potential in combating bacterial resistance. In conclusion, this study strongly suggests that methanolic leaf extracts of *Pterygota alata* present a promising alternative or complementary antibacterial agent against MDR CSOM infections. The work makes a valuable contribution to ethnopharmacology and natural product drug discovery, particularly in the ongoing fight against antimicrobial resistance. Future research should logically progress to the isolation and structural elucidation of the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed activity, investigation into their precise mechanisms of action, and subsequent *in vivo* efficacy and safety studies to pave the way for potential clinical applications.

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