ISSN : 2663-2187

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity and Phytochemical Study of the Ethanolic Extracts of the Leaves and Flower Buds of the Caper «Capparis spinosa L. »

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Nesrine BENKESSIRAT , Yamina MOUAS, Fatma Zohra OUKARA , Lydia CASASNI, Houssem DEGAICHIA , Cherifa CHAOUIA
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.15.2024.14682-14703

Abstract

The caper plant «Capparis spinosa» is a spontaneous medicinal species commonly foundthroughout the Mediterranean region. The objective of this study is to assess in vitro antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts of the caper organs(including leaves and flower buds) against three bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus) and one fungal strain (Candida albicans). Furthermore, the study aims to identify the chemical compounds present in theethanolic extracts and quantify the total polyphenols and flavonoids contained therein. The prepararion of the ethanolic extracts was carried out using a Soxhlet extraction, whereas the antimicrobial activitywas assessed using the agar disk diffusion method. The chemical composition was identified through HPLC, while the quantification of totalpolyphenols and flavonoids was conducted using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and aluminumchloride colorimetric assay, respectively. The ethanolic extract of the flower buds demonstrated the most significant antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. HPLC analyses revealed the presence of rutin in all extracts tested, with the ethanol extract from the leaves exhibiting the highest total content of polyphenols and flavonoids. The results of this study indicate that ethanolic extracts of the caper organs contain phenolic compounds that exhibit antimicrobial activity against all tested strains.

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