Open Access
Research (Published online: 29-11-2022)
25. In vitro phytochemical analysis and antibacterial and antifungal efficacy assessment of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Rumex nervosus leaves against selected bacteria and fungi
Maged A. Al-Garadi, Mohammed M. Qaid, Abdulmohsen H. Alqhtani, Anthony Pokoo-Aikins, and Saud I. Al-Mufarrej
Veterinary World, 15(11): 2725-2737

Maged A. Al-Garadi: Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed M. Qaid: Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulmohsen H. Alqhtani: Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Anthony Pokoo-Aikins: US National Poultry Research Center, Toxicology and Mycotoxin Research Unit, USDA, ARS, Athens, Georgia 30605, USA.
Saud I. Al-Mufarrej: Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.

doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2022.2725-2737

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Article history: Received: 29-08-2022, Accepted: 26-10-2022, Published online: 29-11-2022

Corresponding author: Mohammed M. Qaid

E-mail: mqaid@ksu.edu.sa

Citation: Al-Garadi MA, Qaid MM, Alqhtani AH, Pokoo-Aikins A, and Al-Mufarrej SI (2022) In vitro phytochemical analysis and antibacterial and antifungal efficacy assessment of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Rumex nervosus leaves against selected bacteria and fungi, Veterinary World, 15(11): 2725–2737.
Abstract

Background and Aim: Scientists are interested in identifying natural antibiotic substitutes that are effective against drug-resistant pathogenic microbes and spoilage fungi to counter pathogens and reduce the major public health problem of antibiotic residues in animal products. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Rumex nervosus leaves (RNL) as a medicinal herb against four bacterial and two fungal strains using absolute ethanol, 50% ethanol, and aqueous extracts.

Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial activities of various RNL extracts against selected microbes were evaluated using the disk diffusion antibiotic susceptibility test, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), minimum fungicidal concentrations, and the poisoned food technique.

Results: The absolute ethanol RNL extract showed the best bacteriostatic/bactericidal activity against Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC/MBC: 0.20/0.40, 0.20/0.40, and 0.32/0.65 mg/mL, respectively). The diameter of the zone of inhibition was larger (p < 0.05) for the 100% ethanol RNL extract (8.17 mm) against Salmonella Typhimurium, the 50% ethanol-RNL extract (11.5 mm) against E. coli, and the aqueous RNL extract (14.0 mm) against S. aureus than for any other bacterial isolate. The aqueous RNL extract strongly (p < 0.0001) inhibited the mycelial growth of Aspergillus fumigatus (100%) and Aspergillus niger (81.4%) compared with the control.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that RNL is a promising new natural antimicrobial agent for food preservation. To date, most research on the antimicrobial properties of natural herbs has been conducted in vitro, with few exceptions in vivo and intervention-based research.

Keywords: antimicrobial activity, Aspergillus spp., Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, phytochemicals, Rumex nervosus leaves.