Phytochemical analysis and biological activity of Damsisa (Artemisia absinthium) extracts against Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

As a traditional medicine, Artemisia absinthium (damsisa) has been used by humans treatment for a long time worldwide. Most of the Sudanese people in rural areas rely on traditional medicine for the treatment of many infectious diseases. In Sudan many studies were carried out testing the antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants. The present study aimed to analyze of the Damsis's chemical compounds and investigate the antimicrobial activity using aqueous and solvent extracts. The plant parts that used were leaves and stem against important pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) using different solvent and aqueous extracts with different concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 %). Qualitative analysis showed the secondary metabolite, and the disc method (inhibition zone), was used to study the antibacterial activity. The phytochemical analysis showed that the Damsisa leaf and stem extracts were containing flavonoids, saponoids and steroids. However, the leave extract of Damsisa was also contain alkaloids. Higher inhibition zone was recorded in methanolic and ethanolic extracts compared to the other solvents (petroleum ether and hexane). However, the methanoic leaf extract of the Damsisa gave (18mm) diameter of inhibition zone against Staphylococcus sp. These results indicated that the Damsisa can be used as antibacterial agents. The study recommended further studies andanalysis of the active components of the plant extracts.