Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 4(1), pp.

58-63, 4 January, 2010

Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/jmpr
DOI: 10.5897/JMPR09.400
ISSN 1996-0875© 2010 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity and phytochemical

screening of Ficus septica Burm and Sterculia foetida
L. leaf extracts
Pierangeli G. Vital1, Rogelio N. Velasco Jr.1, Josemaria M. Demigillo1 and Windell L. Rivera1,2*
1
Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines.
2
Molecular Protozoology Laboratory, Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon
City 1101, Philippines.
Accepted 19 November, 2009

Ethanol extracts of leaves of Ficus septica Burm and Sterculia foetida L. were examined for their
antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and cytotoxic properties. To determine these activities, the
extracts were tested against bacteria and fungus through disc diffusion assay; against protozoa
through growth curve determination, antiprotozoal and cytotoxicity assays. The extracts revealed
antibacterial activities, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Antifungal
assay for F. septica extract showed that it inhibited Candida albicans. The antiprotozoal assay against
Trichomonas vaginalis showed that F. septica can reduce the number of parasites. Moreover,
antiprotozoal assays against Entamoeba histolytica revealed that F. septica and S. foetida can inhibit
the growth of the parasites, wherein the action can be comparable to metronidazole. With the in situ cell
death detection kit, T. vaginalis exposed to F. septica and E. histolytica exposed to F. septica and S.
foetida were observed to fluoresce in red surrounded by a yellow signal signifying apoptotic-like
changes. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the chemical composition of F. septica extracts
containing alkaloids, quaternary base, tannins, 2-deoxysugars, and benzopyrone nucleus, while S.
foetida possessing tannins, 2-deoxysugars, leucoanthocyanin, and benzopyrone nucleus. Thus, these
plant extracts can possibly be used to produce alternative forms of antimicrobials.

Key words: Leaf extract, antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, cytotoxic, phytochemical screening, Ficus
septica, Sterculia foetida.

INTRODUCTION

Medicinal plants are natural sources of compounds that a low price (Calzada et al., 2007). Various studies have
can be used against many diseases today (Kubmarawa been done which utilized plants in investigating possible
et al., 2007). Since a variety of plants grow in every antimicrobial drugs and in discovering the different
conceivable place, having access to them would require medicinal properties of plants, although, these studies
only previous knowledge of their location and certain are not enough to cover the world’s biodiversity and the
unique characteristics, such as a plant’s habit of growth. traditional use of medicinal plants.
As such, plants can be obtained easily. This aspect The purpose of this study was to discover the thera-
would be vital in discovering medicinal plants with high peutic ability of some plants found in the Philippines with
biological activity, low toxicity and which are acquired at an end goal of providing cheaper nature-based alter-
native medicine to the public in the midst of high-priced
medicine produced by pharmaceutical companies. The
public faces major threats from various pathogenic
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] organisms. A study by Zheng and Wu (2007) proved that
 Vital et al. 59

most people in developing countries resort to local (NA). C. albicans was maintained on Sabouraud dextrose agar
traditional medicine due to lack of doctors in their (SDA). Protozoans used in the study were Trichomonas vaginalis
DSHC 2021 and Entamoeba histolytica HK-9. T. vaginalis and E.
communities and their financial incapability in purchasing
histolytica were grown in BI-S-33 medium (Diamond et al., 1978).
market-based medicine. Hence, extensive research on
the use of cheaper plant-based therapy is imperative
nowadays. Through this study, the importance of the Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the plant extracts
plant biodiversity in the country was also highlighted as a
result of the dependence on them for medicinal purposes. Disc diffusion assay on agar plates were used to determine the
Ficus septica (Family Moraceae) and Sterculia foetida antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extracts. Bacteria were
L. (Family: Sterculiaceae) are plants with possible inoculated into nutrient broth (NB), while fungi were inoculated into
medicinal uses found in the Philippines. In this study, Sabouraud dextrose broth (SDB) at 37oC for 6 hours. The turbidity
of the resulting suspensions was diluted with NB and SDB to obtain
various pathogenic organisms of public importance were a transmittance of 74.3% (absorbance of 0.132) at 600 nm (Rojas
tested against leaf extracts of these plants. To assess the et al., 2006). Then, these bacterial cultures were inoculated on the
efficacy of these plants, disc diffusion assay was per- surface of Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA) plates for bacteria and SDA
formed on the bacterial and fungal test organisms, while for fungi. Subsequently, filter paper discs (6 mm in diameter)
growth curve analysis, antiprotozoal and cytotoxicity saturated with extracts (25 µl) dissolved in water were placed on
the surface of each inoculated plate. Antibiotics were used as
assays were done on the protozoan parasites.
positive control (ampicillin and gentamicin for bacteria, while
Antiprotozoal and cytotoxicity assays are rarely done in nystatin for fungi), while solvent (95% ethanol) of the plant extracts
antimicrobial experiments, thus, this study provided as negative control. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 h. At
information on the activity of the plant extracts against a the end of incubation, zones of inhibition were measured. All tests
broad range of microorganisms. Furthermore, the plant were done in triplicates.
extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical
screening to analyze the possible antimicrobial
compounds they contain. The study provides scientific Antiprotozoal activity of the plant extracts
evidence on the possible use of these plants to produce
To analyze the antiprotozoal activity of the plant extracts, growth
alternative forms of medicine.
curve determination and the antiprotozoal assay were performed.
The protocol for this assay was patterned from that of Moon et al.
(2006) and Perez-Arriaga et al. (2006). First, growth curves of E.
MATERIALS AND METHODS histolytica and T. vaginalis were constructed by diluting them in BI-
S-33 medium to give a final count of 1 x 106 cells/mL. Then, the
Collection and identification of plant materials cultures were incubated at 37°C for 120 h (T. vaginalis) and 35.5°C
for 312 hours (E. histolytica). Every 24 h, the cells were detached
Ficus septica and Sterculia foetida were gathered from the and counted to obtain the growth curve for each time. In the
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. The antiprotozoal assay, the same concentration of cells were grown in
plants were identified by the Dr. Jose Vera Santos Memorial the same culture medium and exposed to 10% concentration of the
Herbarium (Philippine University Herbarium) at the Institute of plant extracts. Afterwards, the parasites were detached and
Biology, University of the Philippines. Voucher specimens of the counted in a Neubauer counting chamber and the counts were
herbs were prepared and deposited at the Institute of Biology. Prior compared with those of the positive (metronidazole) and negative
consent was obtained and authorized by the corresponding (95% ethanol) control (Fournet et al., 1994). Each assay was
agencies of the government. The fieldwork and data collection were performed in triplicate.
conducted in accordance with the institutional, national, and
international principles and guidelines of plant use and conservation
of biodiversity.
Detection of apoptosis (Cytotoxicity assay)

Preparation of plant extracts T. vaginalis and E. histolytica were observed to determine the
presence of apoptosis by a Tunel method. To observe apoptotic-
Plant samples were air-dried and ground to a coarse powder using like changes, the In Situ Cell Death Detection Kit, Fluorescein
a dry mill. Then, the powdered leaf was soaked in 95% ethanol (Roche Diagnostics) was used. This method allows the recognition
(1:5) for 72 hours. The solvent was removed under vacuum using a of apoptotic nuclei in T. vaginalis and B. hominis preparations by
rotary evaporator (Vital and Rivera, 2009). labeling the free 3’-OH termini with modified nucleotides in an
enzymatic reaction (fragment end labeling). Fluorescein labels
incorporated in the nucleotide polymers were detected by fluore-
Microorganisms and culture media scence microscopy. Viable cells were stained in yellow-green by a
fluorescein derivative. The apoptotic cells exhibited reddish and
Microorganisms were obtained from the culture collections of the yellow-green fluorescence and necrotic cells were stained only in
Microbiological Research and Services Laboratory and the Mole- red.
cular Protozoology Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research
Institute at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Organisms
were as follows: bacteria: Escherichia coli UPCC 1195, Data analysis
Pseudomonas aeruginosa UPCC 1244, Staphylococcus aureus
UPCC 1143, Bacillus cereus UPCC 1281; fungus: Candida albicans All assays were done in triplicates. Values obtained were
UPCC 2168. Bacterial cultures were maintained on nutrient agar expressed as means ± standard deviation.
60 J. Med. Plant. Res.

Table 1. Antimicrobial activity (mm) of the plant extracts, positive and negative controls on bacteria and fungus determined by disc
diffusion assay.

Zone of inhibition (mm)

Test extracts and control
E. coli B. cereus S. aureus P. aeruginosa C. albicans
S. foetida 19.50 ± 1.80 - 19.00 ± 2.00 - -
F. septica 13.00 ± 1.00 - 13.83 ± 4.01 - 17.67 ± 1.53
Ampicillin 16.83 ± 6.93 - 16.50 ± 3.04 - nd
Gentamicin 33.17 ± 1.04 20.33 ± 3.88 32.00 ± 1.73 20.00 ± 0.00 nd
Ethanol - - - - -
Nystatin nd nd nd nd 14.33 ± 0.58
Key: (-) = no activity; nd = not determined; values = mean of 3 replicates and expressed as mean ± SD

Phytochemical screening that tested them against bacteria and fungi (Mandal et al.,
2000; Nair and Chanda, 2006; Kubmarawa et al., 2007).
The plant extracts were submitted to the Chemical and Mineral
Moreover, the use of S. foetida as an antimicrobial agent
Division of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for
chemical analysis to identify and characterize some of their com- is still unexplored in scientific research. This study
position. The tests done followed the procedure in the Laboratory pioneered research work regarding the antimicrobial
Manual for the UNESCO Sponsored Workshop on the Phytoche- properties of these plant extracts. Due to the reported
mical, Microbiological, and Pharmacological Screening of Medicinal development of resistance by bacteria and fungi to
Plants (1986). various commercially available antimicrobial agents, the
leaf extracts of these plants are potential sources of new
compounds which may be developed as effective drugs
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION against microorganisms if specific chemical components
can be isolated and purified. The use of ampicillin is no
Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the plant longer recommended due to the potency of widespread
extracts resistance to it (Ertürk et al., 2006).
F. septica and S. foetida showed varying levels of
antibacterial properties (Table 1). All test plants were able Growth curve analysis and antiprotozoal assay
to inhibit two bacteria under study, namely, E. coli and S.
aureus. On the other hand, B. cereus and P. aeruginosa T. vaginalis is a flagellated organism that is the most
were not inhibited by the plant extracts. Of the plants common cause of non-viral sexually transmitted infection,
tested, S. foetida induced the highest zone of inhibition, trichomoniasis (Rein and Müller, 1990). In this study, a
with computed microbial indices of 1.44 and 1.38 for E. growth curve of T. vaginalis was constructed and ana-
coli and S. aureus, respectively. For F. septica, the lyzed to be able to determine the specific time when the
microbial index computed for E. coli is 0.625, while for S. plant extracts will be added. It can be observed that the
aureus; the computed microbial index is 0.729. The maximal growth was achieved after 72 h of incubation
inhibition of the positive control, ampicillin, was compar- that corresponded to 1.75 x 106 cells/mL. Based on the
able to those of the plant extracts. The solvent used as growth curve constructed, the antiprotozoal assay was
negative control exerted no effect against the microorga- done. Results showed that F. septica was the extract with
nisms which suggest the effectiveness of the plant the most pronounced effect on T. vaginalis (Figure 1). The
extracts (Table 1). leaf extract exhibited an antimicrobial activity (compa-
In the evaluation of the antifungal property of the plant rable to that of the positive control, metronidazole.
extracts, only F. septica extract greatly inhibited C. E. histolytica, on the other hand, is a common patho-
albicans (Table 1). The computed microbial index for C. genic protozoan transmitted to people via contaminated
albicans is 1.208. C. albicans is an opportunistic yeast water and occasionally through food-borne route. With
that can cause vaginal, oral, and lung infections. The use the growth curve analysis that was done, the maximum
of this plant may offer a new source of antifungal agent number of parasites was observed after 96 h of incu-
against the pathogenic C. albicans since this fungus is bation. This corresponded to a concentration of 1.2 x 106
not easily inhibited by other drugs. There was no inhi- cells/mL. After the growth curve was constructed for E.
bition observed in the other plant extract which suggest histolytica, the extracts were evaluated for their antipro-
that higher concentrations of the extract or other parts of tozoal activities. F. septica and S. foetida leaf extracts
the plants may be used. Few studies have been done on effectively inhibited the growth of the parasites (Figures 2
the antibacterial and antifungal properties of these plants. and 3). This result was comparable to the effect of
In fact, a study was performed on other species of Ficus metronidazole, the positive control used.
 Vital et al. 61

Figure 1. Growth of T. vaginalis when exposed to F. septica leaf extracts, positive

and negative controls. Cells were grown in BI-S-33 culture medium (Diamond et al.,
1978) and incubated at 37°C. Counting was done during the 48th, 72nd and 96th hour
of incubation. F. septica and the positive control, metronidazole, had the same
growth inhibition activity, thus, showing the same line of growth.

Figure 2. Growth of E. histolytica when exposed to F. septica leaf extracts, positive and
negative controls. Cells were grown in BI-S-33 culture medium (Diamond et al., 1978)
and incubated at 35.5°C. Counting was done from the 24th hour until the 312th h of
incubation. F. septica and the positive control, metronidazole, had a similar growth
inhibition activity, thus, showing the same line of growth

The possibility of the solvent, ethanol, causing this drug of choice recommended for the treatment of human
observed effect was excluded since growth continued in trichomoniasis. However, potential carcinogenic, terato-
the culture inoculated with the solvent. On the other genic, embryogenic effects of this drug and clinical and
hand, for the positive control, metronidazole lysed and laboratory-based drug-resistant protozoan isolates have
killed the cells after 24 h of incubation. Metronidazole is a been reported (Calzada et al., 2007).
62 J. Med. Plant. Res.

Figure 3. Growth of E. histolytica when exposed to S. foetida leaf extracts, positive and negative controls.
Cells were grown in BI-S-33 culture medium (Diamond et al., 1978) and incubated at 35.5°C. Counting was
done from the 24th hour until the 312 th h of incubation.

Detection of apoptosis (Cytotoxicity assay)

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is the most common

form of eukaryotic cell death. With the kit that was used,
necrotic cells fluoresce in red color, living cells fluoresce
in yellow green and apoptotic cells fluoresce in yellow
green and red simultaneously (Perez-Arriaga et al.,
2006). F. septica extract induced apoptotic-like changes
to T. vaginalis trophozoites after 72 h exposure.
Moreover, red surrounded by yellow signals were also
observed in F. septica and S. foetida against E.
histolytica (Figure 4). Cells in all cases showed a clear
loss of normal morphology. On the other hand, the nega-
tive control (with ethanol) and the control without any
extract or solvent gave a green color. This signified the
presence of viable cells.
Apoptosis induced by antiparasitic drugs has been
barely studied in protozoan parasites (Perez-Arriaga et
al., 2006). In the method that was used, the effects are
attributable to the plant extracts since the kit preferentially
and specifically labels DNA strand breaks generated
during apoptosis. It allows the discrimination of apoptosis
from necrosis and from primary DNA strand breaks
induced by cytostatic drugs or irradiation. These effects
might be consequences of the activation of apoptotic
mechanisms that may be exclusive for microorganisms
lacking mitochondria (Perez-Arriaga et al., 2006).
Antiprotozoal and cytotoxicity assays are rarely done in
antimicrobial studies. Thus, the assays performed in
Figure 4. Apoptosis detected by Tunel method exposed
these two plants play an essential role in discovering to plant extracts: F. septica against E. histolytica (A); F.
various capabilities of these plants which are seldom septica against T. vaginalis (B); and S. foetida against E.
investigated. Moreover, this discovery offers great histolytica (C) showing red fluorescence. Photographs
possibilities in the discovery of new drugs. are under fluorescence microscope (400x).
 Vital et al. 63

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nary base, tannins, 2-deoxysugars, and benzopyrone Phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids from the stems of Ficus septica. J.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank the Institute of Biology and the Natural

Sciences Research Institute of the University of the
Philippines for providing facilities and materials.

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