Phytochemical screening and evaluating in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity of 80% methanolic Impatiens rothii root extract

Infectious diseases result in morbidity and mortality. The demand for medicinal plants is increasing worldwide due to antimicrobial resistance. The objective of this study was to test the plant chemicals and evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of an 80% methanolic Impatiens rothii root extract. The cold maceration method was employed to obtain the crude extract from the roots of Impatiens rothii. The diameter of the inhibition zone was determined by agar well diffusion, and the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by broth microdilution. As standard drugs, ciprofloxacin and amphotericin B were used, while dimethylsulfoxide was used as a negative control. Various alkaloids, glycosides, free anthraquinones, saponins, and terpenoids were detected. Staphylococcus epidermis (MIC = 4 mg/ml, MBC = 32), Salmonella typhimurium (MIC = 3 mg/ml, MBC = 16), and Escherichia coli (MIC = 4 mg/ml, 32) were inhibited. Above 32 mg/ml, neither high nor low doses of the extract suppressed the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, or Klebsiella pneumoniae. Similarly, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes were susceptible to the crude extract of Impatiens rothii. While the least antifungal activity was observed against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, with an MIC value of greater than 64 mg/ml. Therefore, this study supports the traditional uses of Impatiens rothii.