Phytochemical Screening And Antibacterial Activity From Iraqi Euonymus Japonicus L.Root Extract

Abstract

Euonymus japonicus a member of the celastraceous family, is utilized both as an ornamental plant and in traditional Chinese medicine. The limited knowledge regarding the primary active compounds and potential biological effects of Iraqi Euonymus japonicus roots prompted the initiation of this in vitro investigation. The chemical composition was determined through High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Additionally, the antibacterial properties were assessed using the agar well diffusion method against three pathogenic bacteria. The findings revealed that the key active compounds present in the ethyl acetate fraction of Euonymus japonicus roots included naringenin, kaempferol, vitexin, and quercetin. Notably, the ethyl acetate extract exhibited significant antimicrobial effectiveness at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 µg/ml, with inhibition zones measuring 15-23 mm for *Streptococcus pneumoniae, 10-20 mm for Morganella morganii, and 7-13 mm for Actinomyces. These results were compared to the positive control cefixime, which showed inhibition zones ranging from 0 to 23 mm.