Evaluation of phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties of Terminalia mantaly H. perrier leaf extract

Abstract

Terminalia mantaly, a plant indigenous to Africa, is recognized for its medicinal benefits. This research was conducted to assess the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, antibacterial effectiveness, and toxicological properties of the methanolic extract from Terminalia mantaly leaves. Phytochemical analysis was performed using standard qualitative methods. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion technique. The antioxidant capability of the extract was measured using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, tannins, steroids, triterpenes, and phenols in the extract. The extract demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 6.837 µg/mL, though this was lower than that of ascorbic acid (0.01 µg/mL). The antibacterial assays showed that the extract was effective against clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhi, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) ranging from 7.8125 to 15.625 mg/mL. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified functional groups such as alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and ketones, which correspond to various secondary metabolites. Additionally, the extract exhibited significant toxicity against brine shrimp larvae, suggesting its potential use as a natural insecticide. Overall, the results indicated that Terminalia mantaly leaves contain valuable phytochemicals with notable antioxidant, antibacterial, and toxicological properties, meriting further exploration for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of Terminalia mantaly against the tested clinical isolates.