In Vitro Evaluation of Secondary Metabolites: Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Manilkara zapota L. Seed Extract

Abstract

In the present study, seed extracts were analysed for its effective biological activity. The seed extracts were primarily subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis and further preceded to techniques such as TLC and bioautography to determine the active compounds through spot specification. The active compounds were further premeditated by GC–MS and FT-IR methods for antimicrobial analysis by agar well diffusion assay against few human pathogens including multidrug resistant phenotypes. The acetone extract of M. Zapota seeds revealed the presence of a significant number of secondary metabolites that ascertained that the plant possesses a rich group of bioactive compounds. The extract was quantified for its total phenolics (67.15 ± 4.35 mg/g), tannins (49.93 ± 8.76 mg/g) and flavonoids (60.06 ± 6.4 mg/g) respectively. GC–MS analysis exhibited the presence of 30 active compounds including both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. FTIR analysis indicated 16 functional concrete structures of alkanes, alkenes, amines and aliphatic amines. Moreover, RF values calculated for the TLC spots along with the DPPH sprayed biography shows the presence of antioxidant compounds. Among the investigated microorganisms, Micrococcus luteus, Candida albicans and MRSA E-1122 strain exhibited the highest zone of inhibition. The present study provides convincing evidence that M. zapota seeds possess significant activity over human pathogens and MDR-MRSA by its active biocompounds present in the extract that helps to reduce oxidative stress by carrying off an antioxidant molecule that could be developed into therapeutic agents.