Preliminary Phytochemical Screening, Isolation, Characterization, Structural Elucidation and Antibacterial Activities of Leaves Extracts Rhus vulgaris (Kimmo)

Rhus vulgaris, commonly known as sumac, is a plant known for its various therapeutic properties, including antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Medicines derived from plants significantly contribute to human health. This study aimed to screen the phytochemical constituents, isolate and elucidate the structure, and evaluate the antibacterial activity of the methanol extract from the leaves of Rhus vulgaris. The concentrated fraction was purified using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and column chromatography to isolate the pure compounds. The isolated compounds were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Antibacterial activity was tested against four bacterial strains: Streptococcus aureus (gram-positive), Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Klebsiella pneumoniae (gram-negative) using the agar well diffusion method. The methanol extract exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria, with significant inhibition zones, particularly against Streptococcus aureus (15 mm) and Salmonella typhimurium (14 mm). The preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, anthraquinones, and carbohydrates were detected in all extracts. The methanolic extract of Rhus vulgaris was subjected to column chromatography and eluted with methanol: chloroform (1:8) mixture, leading to the identification of the compound 1-p-tolyl pentadeca-7,9-dien-1-ol. The methanolic extract of Rhus vulgaris has demonstrated strong antibacterial activity, indicating its potential as an effective antimicrobial agent.