The effect of extraction method on yield and antimicrobial activity of Acronychia pedunculata

Abstract

Acronychia pedunculata (Rutaceae) is often used in traditional medicine for treating various skin diseases. Previous studies have shown significant antibacterial activity of the plant against methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA). In the present study, methanolic extracts of different plant parts (Stem-bark, leaves, root, fruits) prepared by two extraction methods, Soxhlet and ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction (UASE), were examined for antimicrobial activity. The screening of the plant extracts for their in vitro antibacterial activity against standard S. aureus (ATCC 5923) and two MSSA, five MRSA strains was carried out using agar well diffusion method. Antifungal activity was determined against the fungus C. cladosporioides using the TLC bioautography method. Yields of extracts varied with the plant part and the extraction method. For Acronychia pedunculata, the Soxhlet method afforded higher yield for the leaf, stem-bark, and fruit/seed extracts than the sonicator method, while the root gave higher yields from the sonicator method. Antimicrobial activity varied depending on the plant part and the extraction method.