Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of a medicinal plant (Salvia Officinalis)

• Author Details:   
• Lamia Benhalima
• Sandra Amri ^*
• Saber Belhaoues
• Mourad Bensouilah

Introduction: Medicinal plants are a natural source of many bioactive molecules, which fulfill various functions.

Aim and Objectives: The study was to research investigates the phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of the medicinal plant Salvia officinalis against reference bacterial strains.

Materials and Methods: Salvia officinalis extract was prepared by maceration of the plant with distilled water and then evaporation. The search for different classes of secondary metabolites was carried and antibacterial activity was evaluated by diffusion method and determination of minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration. Three reference strains were used: Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923.

Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, reducing compounds, flavonoids, polyphenols, saponins, sterols, tannins and terpenoids. The Salvia officinalis extract showed antibacterial effect from 40 mg for Escherichia coli specie and 60 mg/ml for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus species. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined to be 40 mg/ml for Escherichia coli and 60 mg/ml for both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum bactericidal concentration were 50, 80 and 140 mg/ml for Escherichia coli. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus respectively. The calculation of the minimum bactericidal concentration/ minimum inhibitory concentration ratio had indicated that the extract exerts a bactericidal effect against all three tested strains.

Conclusion: Study highlights the potential of the medicinal plant Salvia officinalis as a rich source of bioactive molecules and has a bactericidal effect against the reference strains.