Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of Arbutus unedo L.

Abstract

In this study, antimicrobial activities of water and methanol extract, and three phenolic fractions of the roots of Arbutus unedo L. were investigated. Poor antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria was shown with water and methanol extract. However moderate antibacterial activity was shown by water extract and phenolic fractions against Escherichia coli and S. aureus, respectively. The phytochemical screening of roots of A. unedo revealed the presence of quinones, anthraquinones reducteurs compounds, anthocyanins, tannins and flavonoids. Quantitative analysis showed that the roots were strongly dominated by anthocyanins compounds (3.65 mg g−1) followed by total flavonoids (0.56 mg−1) and flavones & flavonols (0.17 mg g−1).