Secondary metabolite profile, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae) seed methanol extract

Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae) seeds, derived from the Hog plum tree, are rich in polyphenols and exhibit significant antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This study evaluates the chemical profile of the methanol seed extract and its biological activities. Phytochemical screening using colour and precipitation techniques revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins. Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride quantitative assays showed high phenolic content (96.54 ± 0.68 mg GAE/g) and moderate flavonoid content (9.02 ± 0.88 mg QE/g), respectively. Antioxidant activity was confirmed through multiple assays, including DPPH (IC50=20.21 µg/mL), FRAP (97.02 ± 0.72 mmol Fe(II)/L), and phosphomolybdate (74.85%). The 200 mg/mL extract exhibited greater antibacterial susceptibility than the 100 mg/mL extract and demonstrated inhibitory effects comparable to those of nitrofurantoin. The Gram-positive strain, Staphylococcus aureus, exhibited moderate susceptibility to the extract. But the growth of Gram-negative bacteria (Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was suppressed, with MIC and MBC values of 25 mg/mL. These findings highlight the extract’s relevance as a plant-derived source of antioxidant activity and antibacterial agent.