PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND MECHANISTIC EVALUATION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS: TARGETING EFFLUX PUMP-MEDIATED MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria underscores the need for effective alternative therapy. Traditional herbal extracts represent a promising therapeutic option due to their broad spectrum of bioactive compounds. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Curcuma longa (Haldi), Azadirachta indica (Neem Chhal), Saraca asoca (Ashok Chhal), Vitex negundo (Shambhu leaves), Urtica dioica (nettle leaves), Tridax procumbens (Coat Button), Artemisia vulgaris (Tite Pati), Ageratum conyzoides (Goat weed), Solanum virginianum (Kateri), and Hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle hibiscus) against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of diverse bioactive components, including saponins, phenols, flavonoids, Phlobatannins, amino acids, and carbohydrates. Antibiotic susceptibility profiling showed that all isolates exhibited high resistance to commonly used antibiotics, including amoxicillin, cefixime, and penicillin, while retaining susceptibility to norfloxacin. All plant extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity, with H. sabdariffa displaying the highest inhibition, followed by S. asoca and A. indica. Minimum inhibitory concentration analysis revealed the lowest MIC values for H. sabdariffa (61–121.5 µg/mL); however, synergistic interaction assays with norfloxacin showed that C. longa exhibited the strongest synergistic effect, followed by Hibiscus sabdariffa. These findings highlight the potential of selected medicinal plants, particularly C. longa, H. sabdariffa, and S. asoca, as promising candidates for developing plant-based antibacterial agents and antibiotic adjuvant therapies against multidrug-resistant pathogens.