Unveiling the Qualitative Phytochemical Composition and Assessing Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Senna auriculata Flower Extracts

This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and antibacterial effects of Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. flower extract. Given the escalating threat of drug-resistant pathogens, alternative treatments are imperative, with phytochemical extracts offering promise due to their known antioxidant and antibacterial properties. A series of assays including DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power, well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration assays against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Klebsiella pneumonia, the study found that methanolic flower extracts of Senna auriculata exhibited significant antioxidant and radical scavenging activities, attributed to high levels of total phenolic contents, alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins. Additionally, the extract demonstrated notable inhibition of radicals like DPPH and hydroxyl radicals, alongside exhibiting antibacterial activity against tested bacteria. These findings underscore the potential of Senna auriculata extracts as natural sources of antioxidants and antibacterial agents, suggesting their utility in medical and nutraceutical applications.