Solvent-Specific Screening Of Antibacterial And Antifungal Activity Of Tribulus Terrestris, Flaveria Trinervia, And Alternanthera Sessilis Against Clinical Pathogens

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and opportunistic fungal pathogens necessitates the search for alternative therapeutic agents derived from medicinal plants. This study investigates the solvent-specific antibacterial and antifungal activities of methanolic, chloroform, and acetone extracts of Tribulus terrestris, Flaveria trinervia, and Alternanthera sessilis against clinically significant bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and fungal pathogens (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata). The antibacterial efficacy was evaluated using the disc diffusion method and the antifungal activity via well diffusion assay. Among the tested extracts, methanol exhibited the highest bioactivity, particularly in F. trinervia, which showed pronounced inhibition zones against both bacterial and fungal strains. Chloroform extracts displayed moderate inhibition, while acetone extracts were comparatively less effective. These findings underscore the potential of these medicinal plants, particularly Flaveria trinervia, as sources of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents and support further phytochemical investigations for therapeutic development.