Phytochemical analyses and antimicrobial activities of different solvent extracted samples of cactus grandiflorus l. (vanilla cactus)

Plants derived bioactive compounds are gaining popularity for combatting infections caused by variety of microorganisms because of their efficiency and minimal side effects. In the current study, plant extract from cactus grandifloras L was used to analyze the composition of bioactive compounds in five different solvents (Aqueous, Methanolic, Butanol, n-Hexane, and Ethyl Acetate). Phytochemical analyses revealed higher concentration of bioactive compounds in Ethyl Acetate and Methanolic extracts as compared to other extracts. Moreover, the antimicrobial potential of the plant extract was also analyzed against various bacterial pathogenic strains (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Xanthomonas campestris, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia) and fungal strain i.e Candida albicans. All the pathogens showed susceptibility to all the solvent extracted of C. grandifloras L. Overall aqueous (water) extract exhibited least antimicrobial activity as compared to other extracts. An increase in antimicrobial and antifungal activity was observed by increasing concentration from 1-3 mg/disc for bacterial pathogens and 0.5-1.5 mg/disc for fungal pathogen. Overall, 3 mg/disc and 1.5 mg/disc showed maximum antimicrobial activities. For E. coli maximum Zone of Inhibition ( ZI) i.e 48.2% was shown by Butanol. In case of B. Subtilis, n-Hexane showed maximum activity i.e 61.12% ZI. For X. campestris and S. aureus maximum ZI i.e 45.15 and 38.7% was shown by Ethyl Acetate and Methanol respectively. Ethyl Acetate and Methanol were proven to be the best solvent extracts against P. aeruginosa and K. pneumonia both showing maximum ZI of 39.37 and 39.21% respectively. Best antifungal activity against C. albicans was shown by n-Hexane i.e 94% ZI at 1.5 mg/disc