Abstract
BackgroundRapid urbanization and industrialization have greatly impacted the inherent soil composition. Heavy metals disposed in the environment by anthropogenic activities toxicate flora and ultimately affect the phytochemical profile of medicinal plants. We report here such an investigation of the heavy metal concentrations in the leaf extract of Solanum virginianum (S. virginianum). This work has been extended to observe the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial significance of leaf extracts in methanol and aqueous medium.MethodsThe metal concentration was analysed on ICE 3000 series atomic absorption spectrometer. The antibacterial assessment was carried by disc diffusion technique against three gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria.ResultsThe content of Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), and Lead (Pb) were 2.04, 0.47, 0.41, and 0.10 mg/L, respectively. Saponin and coumarin were present in both extracts. Various other phytochemicals like steroids, terpenoid, and flavonoid, were present only in the water extract, while tannin was present only on methanol extract. The methanol and aqueous extracts exhibited their highest inhibition on S. aureus with zones of inhibition of 12 mm and 14 mm, respectively.ConclusionThe aqueous extract possessed more phytochemicals than the methanol extract, and the aqueous extract exhibited better antibacterial activity. The high Fe content in the leaf extract may suggest its use as an anaemic medicine. Other metal contents are under the WHO range.
Highlights
Rapid urbanization and industrialization have greatly impacted the inherent soil composition
Phytochemical screening Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, terpenoid, flavonoid, glycosides, saponins, coumarin, (2020) 6:81
Tannin was only observed in methanol extract, while saponin was found in both methanol and aqueous extracts
Summary
Rapid urbanization and industrialization have greatly impacted the inherent soil composition. Heavy metals disposed in the environment by anthropogenic activities toxicate flora and affect the phytochemical profile of medicinal plants. We report here such an investigation of the heavy metal concentrations in the leaf extract of Solanum virginianum (S. virginianum). Even in complicated ailments such as cancer, natural products have a good contribution. Phytochemicals are synthesized by plants to protect them against bacterial, fungal, viral, and freeradical damage [7]. Such secondary metabolites perform various functions in living systems, most of which are conducive to healthy living. Terpenoids, and polyphenols are known for their antibacterial activities [8,9,10]
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