Phytochemical Analysis, Molecular Docking, and Antibacterial Activity of Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig Rhizome Extract

Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a critical global health threat, highlighting the urgent need for alternative antibacterial agents from natural sources. Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig, a medicinal plant traditionally used for various ailments, shows promise as a potential source of bioactive compounds, yet its effectiveness against β-lactam-resistant bacteria remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties, phytochemical profile, antibacterial activity, and molecular interactions of H. coronarium rhizome extract. Ethanolic extraction produced a 3.87% yield with favorable physicochemical characteristics, including a moisture content of 4.78% and total ash content of 6.24%. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, and terpenoids. Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) analysis identified major bioactive compounds such as α-linolenic acid, methyl palmitate, and 9-oxo-10(E),12(E)-octadecadienoic acid, all previously reported for their antimicrobial potential. The extract demonstrated notable antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.625% against Staphylococcus aureus and 1.25% against Escherichia coli, indicating stronger activity toward Gram-positive bacteria. Molecular docking further revealed that 19-nortestosterone showed the highest binding affinity (-8.347 kcal/mol) toward penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), exceeding that of the native ligand, suggesting a potential inhibition against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Overall, this study provides novel evidence through molecular docking that H. coronarium possesses bioactive compounds with promising antibacterial properties against β-lactam-resistant bacteria. These findings highlight its potential as a natural alternative to conventional antibiotics, warranting further validation through in vivo and biological mechanism studies.