Performance Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Desmanthus sp. Extracts against Selected Pathogenic Strains

Abstract

This study evaluates and compares the antibacterial properties of water and ethanol crude extracts from Desmanthus sp. with commercial antibiotics. Plant samples were collected, processed, and pulverized into powder form. Using a G power of 80% and a 95% confidence level, the study was conducted with two groups and five samples. The first extraction utilized a cold maceration technique with water as the solvent, producing a novel crude extract. The extracts underwent comprehensive characterization, including Gas chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, to identify active biomolecules and assess the potential of antimicrobial activity. The ethanol extract was statistically analyzed using a two-tailed t-test, revealing a p-value of 0.035, demonstrating significant antimicrobial efficacy. The results highlighted the physiological significance of polyphenols, particularly flavonoids, for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. For the first time, unique crude extracts of Desmanthus virgatus were obtained through ethanolic solvent extraction using a cold maceration technique, yielding promising antimicrobial activity. GC-MS analysis and antimicrobial assays further validated the potential of these extracts as effective alternatives to commercial antibiotics.