Objective: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance emphasizes the requirement for new plant-derived bioactive compounds. Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (S. cumini) has been reported to possess various pharmacological properties but systematic comparison of different parts of the plant and extraction solvents under similar conditions is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antifungal and antibacterial activities of extracts obtained from leaves, seed coats and bark of plant using ethanol, methanol and water.
Methods: The extracts were evaluated for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas sp. by agar well diffusion method and antifungal activity against Mucor sp., Aspergillus niger and Fusarium sp. by in vitro bioassay. The zones of inhibition were measured and statistically analyzed.
Results: Antimicrobial activities varied with plant parts and solvent. The ethanolic seed coat extract showed the maximum antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (27.56 ± 0.46 mm) while the aqueous bark extract showed the minimum antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas sp. (11.50 ± 0.66 mm). The leaf methanolic extract exhibited the highest antifungal activity against Fusarium sp. (15.87 ± 0.73 mm) and the lowest antifungal activity against Aspergillus sp. (37.93 ± 0.80 mm) was shown by the bark aqueous extract. Seed coat extracts were more efficacious against bacteria and relatively leaf extracts were more potent against fungi.
Conclusion: This comparative study identifies the most effective plant part–solvent combinations of S. cumini, supporting its potential as a naturally occurring source of antimicrobial agents for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.