مساهمة لدراسة فعالية بعض المستخلصات النباتية ضد البكتيريا المسبة لأمراض الجهاز التناسلي عند المرأة

Abstract

This study aims to investigate plants used in treating female reproductive system infections and evaluate their biological activity against the causative bacteria. To achieve this, we first conducted a field study which identified three plant types: pomegranate peels (Punica granatum), lavender (Lavandula officinalis), and pine bark (Pinus halepensis). We also selected bacterial species: E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae. In the laboratory study, we conducted a chemical profiling of some secondary metabolites in the aqueous extracts of the studied plants, obtained by infusion and boiling, followed by quantitative estimation of some of these compounds, and finally tested the antibacterial activity of the plant extracts. We also explored the active compounds binding to bacteria using Silico Molecular Docking. The chemical profiling results of the plant extracts showed that they contained most secondary metabolites, including tannins, alkaloids, terpenes, saponins, flavonoids, and reducing compounds, except that pomegranate peel and lavender extracts lacked saponins. The quantitative estimation results showed that the highest phenolic concentration was in the infused and boiled pine bark extracts, measured at 228.08±22.59 µg E AG/mg Ext and 217.28±36.04 µg E AG/mg Ext, respectively. This was followed by the boiled pomegranate peel extract at 215.55±1.92 µg E AG/mg Ext. The boiled lavender extract had a concentration of 201.64 ±1.55 µg E AG/mg Ext. The highest flavonoid concentration was in the infused and boiled pomegranate peel extracts, measured at 95.61±35.69 µg E Qu/mg Ext and 89.10±21.08 µg E Qu/mg Ext, respectively, compared to the other extracts. The highest tannin content was in the infused pine bark extract, measured at 289.27±49.08 µg E Ca/mg Ext, followed by the boiled pomegranate peel extract at 279.27±51.43 µg E Ca/mg Ext. The highest inhibitory activity was observed with the infused pomegranate peel extract among the studied extracts against the Staphylococcus aureus strain, with an inhibition diameter of 22.167 ± 2.255 mm. Additionally, the boiled pomegranate peel extract exhibited antibiotic-like inhibitory activity against E. coli, with an inhibition diameter of 21.000 ± 2.500 mm. The Silico Molecular Docking study results indicated that the compounds A.Ellagic, present in pine bark, respectively, formed stable structures with the bacterial enzymes 4c5a and A1D4, which have essential roles in cell construction. This suggests inhibition of their activity within the bacterial cell. Hence, these compounds might have therapeutic efficacy in treating female reproductive system infections, which warrants further investigation through ADMET and SMD analysis.