Phytochemical Profile And Antimicrobial (Antibacterial And Antifungal) Activities Of Cassia Tora And Crateva Adansonii

Abstract

Medicinal plants are known to be good sources of bioactive compounds that have therapeutic effects against infectious and oxidative stress related diseases. The current research determined the phytochemical content, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties of Cassia tora L. (Fabaceae) and Crateva adansonii DC. Two Indian species that are ethnomedicinally significant are (Capparaceae). Soxhlet and water-bath extracts (aqueous and solvent extracts, methanol and n-hexane) were used to extract various parts of the plant. Screening of qualitative phytochemicals showed that both species had phenols, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, and alkaloids, which validated the chemical diversity of the two species. The agar-well diffusion method of antimicrobial activity revealed that the methanolic extract of C. tora seeds and C. adansonii stems had maximum antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (20 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18 mm), and antifungal activity was also notable against Aspergillus niger (17-19 mm). Methanolic extracts were more effective than aqueous and n-hexane fractions, which implies that active constituents were extracted differently by solvents. The presence of potent hydrogen-donating phenolics and flavonoids was confirmed by the concentration-dependent antioxidant potential, which was similar to the standard ascorbic acid using the DPPH radical-scavenging assay. The paper supports the historical application of these plants and outlines their possible use as natural sources of antioxidants and antimicrobials. The findings form a scientific foundation of the creation of phytopharmaceutical preparations and promote additional separation and characterization of particular bioactive compounds to be used in treatment.