Antibacterial activity and phytochemical composition of Trianthema portulacastrum L.

The global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has intensified the need for alternative therapeutic agents. Trianthema portulacastrum L. is a wild medicinal plant traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments, including jaundice, fever, constipation and piles. In this study, the phytochemical profile and antibacterial activity of different plant parts (leaves, stems, and roots) were investigated. The plant materials were extracted using methanol, water, and petroleum ether via Soxhlet extraction. Antibacterial activity of the crude extracts was evaluated using the disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. The results demonstrated that methanolic extracts exhibited significantly higher antibacterial activity (p < 0.05) compared to other solvent extracts, with the methanolic leaf extract showing the largest zones of inhibition (13.67±0.33 mm, 12.33±0.33 mm, 12.33±0.33 mm and 11.56±0.29 mm against B. subtilis, E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively) at 100 mg/mL concentration. GC–MS analysis of the most active extracts revealed the presence of various phytochemical constituents, including terpenoids, fatty acid derivatives and sterols. However, these results represent only a partial chemical profile of the extract, as GC–MS primarily detects volatile and thermally stable compounds. Therefore, the observed antibacterial activity cannot be attributed solely to the identified compounds and is likely due to a combination of both volatile and non-volatile phytochemicals. Overall, the findings suggest that T. portulacastrum possesses notable antibacterial potential; however, further studies employing advanced analytical techniques and bioassay-guided fractionation are required to identify the specific active constituents and validate their therapeutic relevance.