Antimicrobial, Phytotoxic, antithrombotic and anti-hemolysin activities of Sambucus wightiana in Swat, Pakistan

Abstract

Medicinal plants can treat various ailments; hence, the Sambucus wightiana was screened for antibacterial, antifungal, phytotoxic, hemagglutination, antithrombotic and antihemolytic activities. The aerial components of Sambucus wightiana, obtained from Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, were gathered, identified, and treated. Following the process of methanol extraction, a variety of fractions were acquired. The antibacterial and antifungal activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion and SDA techniques. The assessment of phytotoxicity was conducted utilizing Lemna minor. The presence of hemagglutination activity against human erythrocytes, antithrombotic activity, and anti-hemolysin activity were assessed. The study offers a comprehensive comprehension of the plant's potential bioactivities. The crude methanolic extract (Cr. MeOH Ext.), n-hexane, and chloroform (CHCl3) showed moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, S. marcescens, and S. typhi, while the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and aqueous fractions showed good inhibition. EtOAc and aqueous fractions suppress Alternaria alternata and Fusarium oxysporum, also inhibiting Trichoderma harzianum. Both Cr. MeOH ext and CHCl3 fractions have good and moderate efficacy against Paecilomyces fulvus, F. oxysporum, and Polysphondylium pallidum. Test samples' phytotoxic activity against Lemna minor (L) was concentration-dependent; Cr. MeOH Ext. had good activity, whereas aqueous and EtOAc fractions had moderate activity. The Cr. MeOH ext, n-hexane, EtOAc, and aqueous fractions of the plant had moderate antithrombotic activity, while CHCl3 had low. Erythrocytes of all ABO blood groups did not haemagglutinate. The percent antihemolysin activity against haemolytic E. coli varied by concentration: CHCl3 fraction (71.50), EtOAc (67.59), Cr. MeOH Ext. (66.86), n-hexane (59.50), and water (51.60) at 300. This research underscores the therapeutic potential of Sambucus wightiana and contributes to understanding its diverse bioactivities against microbial infections and clot-related concerns. The plant's effectiveness against these health-related issues signifies its possible application as a natural remedy or a source for developing novel therapeutic agents.