PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL FRESH STEAM OF ZIZPHUSMURITIANA
Abstract
The increasing global challenge of antimicrobial resistance has prompted the search for new bioactive agents from natural sources, particularly medicinal plants. Ziziphus mauritiana (Lam.), commonly known as Indian jujube, is a traditional medicinal plant widely used for the treatment of fever, wounds, infections, and digestive disorders. Despite extensive research on its leaves and bark, limited attention has been given to the fresh stem extract. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract of the fresh stem of Ziziphus mauritiana.Fresh stem samples of Z. mauritiana were collected, washed, air-dried, and extracted using ethanol as solvent. The crude extract was subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening to detect the presence of major bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, and glycosides. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method against selected bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a fungal species (Candida albicans).Results revealed the presence of abundant flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and saponins, known for their potent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The ethanol extract demonstrated significant inhibitory effects against all tested microorganisms, with S. aureus showing the highest zone of inhibition (18.6 mm) and E. coli the lowest (12.4 mm). These findings indicate that the ethanol extract of the fresh stem of Z. mauritiana possesses broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential, likely due to its rich phytochemical constituents.In conclusion, the study validates the traditional use of Ziziphus mauritiana as an antimicrobial agent and supports its possible development into natural therapeutic formulations. Further studies are recommended to isolate and characterize the specific active compounds and to determine their mechanisms of action and in vivo efficacy.
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