Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Screening of Suaeda maritima L (Dumort) against Human Pathogens and Multiple Drug Resistant Bacteria

In this study, antimicrobial property of Suaeda maritima, a mangrove associate species collected from lower Gangetic delta complex was evaluated. The antibacterial activity of the extract against a wide spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive isolates and multiple antibiotic resistant strains suggested that it may be a potential antibacterial agent to control antibiotic resistant infections. Among the different solvent fractions examined, n-hexane extract of the shoot of S. maritima L (Dumort) was found to possess highest antibacterial activity against four Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, S. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis) and six Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Citrobacter sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, KPC producing K. Pneumonia, Pseudomonas sp. and Stenotrophomonas maltophila) bacteria. Fungicidal activity was noted against Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values were determined in disc diffusion and macrodilution assays. The inhibition zones ranged between 13-20 mm. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the n-hexane fraction showed the presence of various fatty acid esters and essential oils. In addition, scytalone known for its antioxidant property, campesterol and ethanone were detected. Antioxidant activity was found having an IC50 value of 52.53 mg/ml.