Abstract:
Background: The quest for scientific endorsement of new drugs from plants continues due to the
rising antibiotic resistance against pathogenic bacteria. Litsea iteodaphne is used in Sri Lanka in the
treatment of infectious diseases. Therefore, in vitro antibacterial activity of L. iteodaphne plant extracts
were evaluated against selected human pathogenic bacteria. Materials and Methods: Antibacterial
activity of 400, 40, and 4 mg/ml concentrations of hexane, ethanol, and aqueous leaf extracts of
L. iteodaphne were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Psedomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella
pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and methicillin‑resistant S. aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates using
disc diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was identified, and phytochemical
screening was carried out. Results: Significant zones of inhibition ranging from 5.7 mm to 8.1 mm,
7.1 mm to 8.0 mm, and 7.6 mm were obtained for ethanol, hexane, and aqueous extracts at
400 mg/ml, respectively, against above four bacteria. For MRSA clinical isolates, zones of inhibition
ranging from 6.1 mm to 10.9 mm, 6.7 mm to 10.8 mm, and 6.4 mm to 8.6 mm were obtained for
ethanol, hexane, and aqueous extracts at 400 mg/ml, respectively. Ethanol extract of L. iteodaphne
showed the lowest MIC value (0.0256 mg/ml). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence
of tannins, cardiac glycosides, reducing sugars, phenolic compounds, saponins, and flavonoids.
Conclusions: L. iteodaphne crude leaf extracts showed promising antibacterial activity against
Gram‑positive and Gram‑negative bacteria and clinical isolates of MRSA. Further investigations
toward fractionation and the identification of an active compound will enhance the antimicrobial
potential of L. iteodaphne.
