ANTIMICROBIAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF GUAVA LEAFS EXTRACTS

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial activity and phytochemical composition of Psidium guajava (guava) leaf extracts. The research was driven by the increasing challenge of antimicrobial resistance and the need to explore natural alternatives, such as medicinal plants, for treating infectious diseases. Guava leaves, known for their traditional medicinal uses, were collected, processed, and extracted using two solvents: methanol and distilled water. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, and glycosides. The ethanolic extract showed a notably higher concentration of flavonoids, while volatile oils were absent in both extracts. Contrary to expectations, antimicrobial susceptibility testing against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans using the agar well diffusion method showed no zones of inhibition, indicating that the extracts were not effective against the tested microorganisms at the concentrations and with the extraction methods used. The study concludes that while guava leaves possess a rich profile of phytochemicals with known therapeutic potential, their antimicrobial efficacy was not demonstrated under the specific conditions of this experiment. It is recommended that future research employs higher extract concentrations, different extraction techniques, and purified fractions to fully elucidate the antimicrobial potential of guava leaf extracts.