Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Potential of Caralluma fimbriata Stem Extracts

Abstract

Medicinal plants have long been recognized as valuable sources of bioactive compounds with significant therapeutic potential. The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of stem extracts of Caralluma fimbriata against selected fungal and bacterial pathogens. Shade-dried stems of C. fimbriata were extracted successively using different solvents, including hexane, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether, and methanol. The antimicrobial activity of the crude extracts was assessed using the disc diffusion method. Antifungal activity was evaluated against Aspergillus niger, Microsporum canis, and Fusarium oxysporum, while antibacterial activity was assessed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. Among the tested extracts, the methanolic extract exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity. The methanol extract showed maximum antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger with a zone of inhibition of 3.8 ± 0.115 cm, followed by Microsporum canis (2.9 ± 0.176 cm) and Fusarium oxysporum (1.7 ± 0.088 cm). Similarly, the methanol extract demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a zone of inhibition of 5.1 ± 0.132 cm, followed by Proteus mirabilis (4.7 ± 0.099 cm), Klebsiella pneumoniae (3.9 ± 0.043 cm), and Escherichia coli (3.2 ± 0.085 cm). The results indicate that Caralluma fimbriata possesses potent antimicrobial properties and may serve as a promising natural source for the development of antimicrobial agents.

Keywords: Caralluma fimbriata, Antimicrobial Activity, Antifungal Activity, Antibacterial Activity, Methanolic Extract