Exploring the Chemical Diversity and Antimicrobial Potential of Albizia chevalieri Leaves Extract through GC-MS and TLC Investigation

Abstract

Albizia chevalieri has a rich history of use in traditional medicine. Its bark, leaves, and flowers are utilized in treating a range of ailments, including skin conditions, digestive problems, epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, haemorrhoids, asthma, leprosy and gonorrhoea and respiratory issues. Albizia chevalieri leaves were collected, identified, air-dried, pulverized and subjected to cold extraction (maceration) using dichloromethane, and methanol respectively. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was determined using standard antimicrobial tests against Bacillus amyloquefaciens, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas auruginosa, and Trichophyton rubrum. The most active extract was thereafter subjected to gas chromatography mass spectrometric analysis. Results of the antimicrobial activity test of the extracts had showed appreciable antimicrobial activity against Bacillus amyloquefaciens, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Trichophyton rubrum (with MIC values ranging from 250 mg/ml to 125 mg/ml). The results demonstrated significant inhibitory effects, highlighting the potential of the compound as an antimicrobial agent. The GCMS analysis identified 21 compounds from dichloromethane crude extract. Out of these, five (5) compounds were most abundant (revealed >5% peak areas on GC chromatogram)., which were: 1-octadecane 1-iodo, dibutylphthalate, henecosine, oxirintetradecyl and tetrapentacontane. The antimicrobial activity of Albizia chevalieri against the pathogenic microorganisms is ascribable to these phytocompounds, thereby proving proof for its ethnomedicinal uses.