PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND ANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIAL OF MORUS ALBA L. LEAF EXTRACTS AGAINST SALMONELLA TYPHI

Abstract

Typhoid fever, commonly referred to as typhoid, is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi. Its treatment relies on antibiotics; however, this approach poses challenges such as drug resistance, high costs, and limited accessibility, particularly for rural populations. This research aimed to identify the bioactive metabolites in the leaves of Morus alba and evaluate their antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhi. The antibacterial potential of Morus alba leaf extracts prepared through aqueous maceration, decoction, infusion, and ethanol maceration was assessed using the agar well diffusion technique to explore its viability as an antibacterial agent. Additionally, the phytochemical constituents, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the extracts were analyzed. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, and coumarins, while phlobatannins and oxalates were absent. Among the extraction methods, the decoction exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against S. typhi, with a zone of inhibition of 15 ± 2.7 mm at 1000 mg/ml. MIC values for aqueous maceration, infusion, and decoction were recorded at 62.5 mg/ml, whereas ethanol maceration demonstrated an MIC of 15.625 mg/ml. Despite these findings, the study concluded that the antibacterial activity of Morus alba leaf extracts against S. typhi was limited, given the exceptionally high concentrations required to achieve effectiveness.