A Biochemical Study on the Effect of Alcoholic and Aqueous Extracts of Plantago ovata Leaves in Inhibiting the Growth of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Abstract

This study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of Plantago ovata leaves against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains, specifically S. aureus (MRSA) and E. coli. A comparative analysis was conducted between aqueous and alcoholic (70% ethanol) extraction efficiencies. The results revealed a qualitative superiority of the alcoholic extract in recovering phenolic compounds and iridoid glycosides (Aucubin and Catalpol). The alcoholic extract achieved a maximum inhibition zone of 22 mm against S. aureus, with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 31.25 μg/mL. The study concludes that the synergistic effect of phytochemical constituents works by destabilizing the bacterial cell membrane and inhibiting DNA replication enzymes, offering promising prospects for developing natural adjunct therapies to conventional antibiotics.