Bioassay-guided purification, GC-MS characterization and quantification of phyto-components in an antibacterial extract of Searsia lancea leaves

Abstract

Phytocompounds in an aqueous methanol (70% MeOH) leaf extract of Searsia lancea were separated using liquid-liquid partitioning techniques and gravity-assisted column chromatography. The resultant fractions were screened for antibacterial properties (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC) against four bacterial strains (Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus aureus). Bioactive fractions were purified using preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) and subjected to further antibacterial screening. Phytocompounds in antibacterial sub-fractions were characterized and quantified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). An ethyl acetate sub-fraction purified from the aqueous methanol extracts of the leaves demonstrated potent antibacterial properties (MIC range: 31-61 µg/ml against E. faecalis and S. aureus). Based on GC-MS analysis, 81.5% of the sub-fraction consisted of broad-spectrum antibacterial compounds namely tetracosanol (43.98%) and nonadecanol (37.5%). Current research findings support the traditional use of S. lancea leaves to manage gastro-intestinal disorders and gonorrhoea.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Anacardiaceae
• antibacterial
• GC-MS
• ethnobotany
• Searsia lancea

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Research Foundation (NRF: Indigenous Knowledge System grant UID: 93175) Pretoria, South Africa”. I think we should acknowledge UKZN as well for funding the study. We thank the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Pietermaritzburg for financial support and the National Research Foundation (NRF: Indigenous Knowledge System Grant UID: 93175) Pretoria, South Africa.

Notes on contributors

M. Vambe

MV conceptualized the project and prepared the manuscript. DN provided technical support, while AOA assisted with the conceptualization and provided technical support. JFF and JVS provided the facilities and supervised the project. All authors edited the manuscript.

D. Naidoo

MV conceptualized the project and prepared the manuscript. DN provided technical support, while AOA assisted with the conceptualization and provided technical support. JFF and JVS provided the facilities and supervised the project. All authors edited the manuscript.

A. O. Aremu

MV conceptualized the project and prepared the manuscript. DN provided technical support, while AOA assisted with the conceptualization and provided technical support. JFF and JVS provided the facilities and supervised the project. All authors edited the manuscript.

J. F. Finnie

MV conceptualized the project and prepared the manuscript. DN provided technical support, while AOA assisted with the conceptualization and provided technical support. JFF and JVS provided the facilities and supervised the project. All authors edited the manuscript.

J. Van Staden

MV conceptualized the project and prepared the manuscript. DN provided technical support, while AOA assisted with the conceptualization and provided technical support. JFF and JVS provided the facilities and supervised the project. All authors edited the manuscript.