In vitro phytochemical analysis and antibacterial and antifungal efficacy assessment of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Rumex nervosus leaves against selected bacteria and fungi

Abstract

Background and Aim: Scientists are interested in identifying natural antibiotic substitutes that are effective against drug-resistant pathogenic microbes and spoilage fungi to counter pathogens and reduce the major public health problem of antibiotic residues in animal products. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Rumex nervosus leaves (RNL) as a medicinal herb against four bacterial and two fungal strains using absolute ethanol, 50% ethanol, and aqueous extracts. Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial activities of various RNL extracts against selected microbes were evaluated using the disk diffusion antibiotic susceptibility test, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), minimum fungicidal concentrations, and the poisoned food technique. Results: The absolute ethanol RNL extract showed the best bacteriostatic/bactericidal activity against Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC/MBC: 0.20/0.40, 0.20/0.40, and 0.32/0.65 mg/mL, respectively). The diameter of the zone of inhibition was larger (p < 0.05) for the 100% ethanol RNL extract (8.17 mm) against Salmonella Typhimurium, the 50% ethanol-RNL extract (11.5 mm) against E. coli, and the aqueous RNL extract (14.0 mm) against S. aureus than for any other bacterial isolate. The aqueous RNL extract strongly (p < 0.0001) inhibited the mycelial growth of Aspergillus fumigatus (100%) and Aspergillus niger (81.4%) compared with the control. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that RNL is a promising new natural antimicrobial agent for food preservation. To date, most research on the antimicrobial properties of natural herbs has been conducted in vitro, with few exceptions in vivo and intervention-based research.

Effects of Rumex nervosus leaf powder supplementation on carcasses compositions, small intestine dimensions, breasts color quality, economic feasibility in broiler chickens

“…Overall, our results indicate that RNLP is an effective agent that improves carcass processing, small intestine measurements, and economic profitability of broilers. The mechanisms of action that led to these changes can be attributed to the fact that RNLP contains gallic acid and other active ingredients that have various biological activities, such as natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoccidial, and antimicrobial properties ( Al-Quraishy et al, 2020 ; Qasem et al, 2020 ; Qaid et al, 2021b ; Al-Garadi et al, 2022 ). Moreover, RNLP as a phytogenic, especially at lower incorporation rates, has beneficial effects on intestinal absorption area, serum levels of albumin and triiodothyronine hormone, and E. coli in the cecum ( Azzam et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Some studies on the use of medicinal plants containing gallic acid and other bioactive derivatives in poultry feed show promising results in promoting growth performance, increasing feed efficiency, and improving carcass characteristics and meat quality ( Biswas et al, 2023 ; Vlaicu et al, 2023 ), whereas studies with Rumex nervosus are very limited. Rumex nervosus , as a traditional medicinal shrub belonging to the Polygonaceae family and distributed in Arab and African countries, contains gallic acid and has numerous biological activities ( Al-Sunafi, 2016 ; Aati et al, 2019 ; Gemechu et al, 2021 ; Al-Farhan et al, 2022 ; Al-Garadi et al, 2022 ; Boukhary et al, 2023 ). Regardless of extracts or powders, Rumex nervosus leaf powder ( RNLP ) have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory ( Al-Quraishy et al, 2020 ; Qasem et al, 2020 ), anticoccidial ( Qasem et al, 2020 ; Qaid et al, 2021b ), and antimicrobial properties ( Al-Garadi et al, 2022 ), as well as improves the productive performance of broilers ( Al-Quraishy et al, 2020 ; Azzam et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Rumex nervosus , as a traditional medicinal shrub belonging to the Polygonaceae family and distributed in Arab and African countries, contains gallic acid and has numerous biological activities ( Al-Sunafi, 2016 ; Aati et al, 2019 ; Gemechu et al, 2021 ; Al-Farhan et al, 2022 ; Al-Garadi et al, 2022 ; Boukhary et al, 2023 ). Regardless of extracts or powders, Rumex nervosus leaf powder ( RNLP ) have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory ( Al-Quraishy et al, 2020 ; Qasem et al, 2020 ), anticoccidial ( Qasem et al, 2020 ; Qaid et al, 2021b ), and antimicrobial properties ( Al-Garadi et al, 2022 ), as well as improves the productive performance of broilers ( Al-Quraishy et al, 2020 ; Azzam et al, 2020 ). Based on pharmacognostical study of Rumex nervosus growing in Yemen reported by Al-Sunafi (2016) observed that the Rumex nervosus extract considered as non-toxic up to a dose of 7.1 g/kg body weight.…”

Determining the In Vivo Efficacy of Plant-Based and Probiotic-Based Antibiotic Alternatives against Mixed Infection with Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli in Domestic Chickens

“…using extracts of Anatolian bocort and Indian cumin at a concentration of 12.5 mg/mL [ 48 ]. Al-Garadi et al demonstrated a potent anti- Salmonella effect using a plant extract of iscagale lettuce [ 49 ], and El-Desoukey et al demonstrated a potent anti- Salmonella effect using an extract of crow liver [ 50 ]. Kollanoor-Johny et al showed that 0.01% cinnamaldehyde and 0.04% eugenol were effective in reducing Salmonella invasion in the caecum [ 51 ].…”

Effect of water supplementation of Magic oil at different growing periods on growth performance, carcass traits, blood biochemistry, and ileal histomorphology of broiler chickens

“…Recently, the world has been striving to use antibiotic alternatives, including essential oils ( EOs ) and their nano-emulsions ( Sharma et al, 2023 ), probiotics ( Abd El‐Hack et al, 2020 ), amino acids ( Gelinski et al, 2023 ), herbal extracts ( Al-Garadi et al, 2022 ; Al-Garadi et al, 2023a ), and green nanoparticles ( Abd El-Ghany et al, 2021 ) to improve birds’ performance, control pathogens and avoid antibiotics resistance and misuse risks.…”