Antimicrobial Effect of Mango Leaves Extract against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Mango (Mangifera indica) plants are rich in a wide variety of secondary metabolites, including tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids, which have been reported to possess antimicrobial properties in vitro. This study assessed the antimicrobial potential of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extract against Staphylococcus aureus using both ethanolic and aqueous solvents. The leaves were collected, air-dried, and subjected to solvent extraction, followed by qualitative phytochemical screening. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method; Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined through serial dilution and sub-culturing techniques. The Phytochemical screening revealed tannins, saponins, phenols, alkaloids, and quinones, with variations between the ethanolic and aqueous extracts. Both extracts exhibited dose-dependent antibacterial activity, with the ethanolic extract producing larger zones of inhibition. The MIC and MBC results showed that both extracts inhibited bacterial growth at 50 mg/mL and completely killed S. aureus at 100 mg/mL. These findings demonstrate that M. indica leaves have significant bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects, supporting their potential as natural antimicrobial agents for managing S. aureus infections.