Abstract:
Nowadays, the growth of multi-resistant bacterial strains has become an increasing
issue, underlining the need for new and effective antimicrobial drugs, to be discovered and
developed. In this regard, studying wild flora is an approach that has promise for developing
medicines. This study aims to investigate the antioxidant and antibacterial
potentials, phytochemical composition, of Cornulaca monacantha Del. growing in the
northern Algerian Sahara. Plant aerial parts were initially subjected to extraction, and the
resultant extracts were then evaluated for their phytochemical profiles (such as total
contents of phenolic, and flavonoid), and antioxidant potentials using the DPPH
assay. In addition, antibacterial activities were assessed in vitro using a panel of fourteen
human pathogenic microorganisms including (MDR) multi-drug resistant strains. Results
indicated the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, sterols and triterpenes, reducing
sugar and coumarins. The Plant aerial parts were higher in total flavonoid and phenolic
contents. Moreover, an important antioxidant activity compared to the ascorbic acid was
recorded (IC50 = 0.62 ± 0.02 mg/ml and 0.3 ± 0.02 mg/ml for Cornulaca monacantha
Del. and ascorbic acid, respectively). Furthermore, the extract showed antibacterial
activity against tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria with significant
inhibition effect against C. koseri, P. aeruginosa IMPR, S. aureus ATCC 43300, and S.
aureus (MRSA) and S. epidermidis with MIC 3.75 mg/ml. This study revealed the high
richness in phenolic compounds with important antioxidant and antibacterial
activities of Cornulaca monacantha Del. that suggests its potential as an effective
antimicrobial drug
