Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties of the Methanolic Extract of the Stem Bark of Pteleopsis hylodendron (Combretaceae).

Pteleopsis hylodendron (Combretaceae) is used in Cameroon and West Africa folk medicine for the treatment of various microbial infections (measles, chickenpox, and sexually transmitted diseases). The antibacterial properties of the methanolic extract and fractions from stem bark of Pteleopsis hylodendron were tested against three Gram-positive bacteria and eight Gram-negative bacteria using Agar-well diffusion and Broth microdilution methods. Antioxidant activities of the crude extract and fractions were investigated by DPPH radical scavenging activity and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. The methanolic extract and some fractions exhibited antibacterial activities that varied between the bacterial species (ID = 0.00-25.00 mm; MIC = 781-12500 μg/mL and 0.24-1000 μg/mL). The activity of the crude extract is, however, very weak compared to the reference antibiotics (MIC = 0.125-128 μg/mL). Two fractions (F(E) and F(F)) showed significant activity (MIC = 0.97 μg/mL) while S. aureus ATCC 25922 was almost resistant to all the tested fractions. In addition, the crude extract and some fractions showed good antioxidant potential with inhibition values ranging from 17.53 to 98.79%. These results provide promising baseline information for the potential use of this plant as well as some of the fractions in the treatment of infectious diseases and oxidative stress.

1. Introduction

Since the successive introduction of various antibiotics into therapeutics, the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms changed a lot so that the proportion of antibiotically resistant strains is currently important [1], what involves an increase in seriousness of infectious diseases as gastroenteritis (GE) which are a problem of public health on a worldwide scale but especially in Africa [2]. Diarrhea, its main characteristic is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are more than 2 million deaths per year [3]. Moreover, therapy with synthetic antibiotics is not always possible because of their high cost as well as toxicity due to their extended use. To overcome this problem, people in developing countries use preparations obtained from plants following folk tradition for their primary health care because of low cost with little or no undesirable side effects [4]. The plants represent a potential and almost inexhaustible source of new anti-infective compounds [5] and many of them are used to treat GE effectively [6].

Pteleopsis hylodendron Mildbr. belongs to the family Combretaceae commonly found in the forest regions of West and Central Africa. The genus Pteleopsis is represented in Africa by ten species but only P. hylodendron is found in Cameroon [7]. The aqueous decoction of the stem bark of P. hylodendron is used to treat measles, chickenpox, sexually transmitted diseases, GE, female sterility, liver and kidney disorders, as well as dropsy [8]. Phytochemical, antimicrobial, toxicity and antioxidant works have been previously reported of this plant [9, 10]. In the same logic, we have analysed the stem bark of Pteleopsis hylodendron and report here the antibacterial activity on pathogenic bacteria of the gastro-intestinal tract and antioxidant activity of the crude extract and fractions.

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Plant Material

The stem bark of P. hylodendron was collected in February 2009 at Mbeyengue I, Centre region of Cameroon. Identification was done at the National Herbarium in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where a voucher specimen (No 1309/SFRK) has been deposited.

2.2. Microorganisms

Five bacterial strains and six isolates known to be pathogenic of the gastro-intestinal tract were used in this work. These included three Gram bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 10541, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus) and eight Gram− bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 11775, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Salmonella paratyphi A, Salmonella paratyphi B, Salmonella typhi ATCC 6539, and Shigella flexeneri). The bacterial isolates were obtained from Centre Pasteur of Yaoundé, Cameroon, while the reference strains were obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). The bacterial strains and isolates were grown at 35°C and maintained on nutrient agar. The bacterial cell suspension was prepared at 1.5 × 108 colony forming units per mL (CFU/mL) following the McFarland 0.5 turbidity standard.

2.3. Extraction and Fractionation

The air-dried and powdered stem bark of Pteleopsis hylodendron (2.5 kg) was extracted with MeOH (8 L, 72 h) at room temperature to obtain a crude extract (590 g) after evaporation under vacuum. A portion of this extract (100 g) was subjected to silica gel column chromatography (Ø8 cm × L30 cm) eluted successively with pure hexane, hexane-EtOAc (90 : 10–30 : 70), pure EtOAc, EtOAc-MeOH (95 : 5–80 : 20) and pure MeOH. Forty-six fractions of 500 mL each were collected and combined based on their TLC profile into ten major fractions A–J (A: 2-3, B: 4–6, C: 7–13, D: 14–16, E: 17–21, F: 22–28, G: 29–35, H: 36-37, I: 38–44, J: 45–46).

2.4. Antibacterial Assays

2.4.1. Agar-Well Diffusion Method

Diameters of inhibition zones (ID) were determined using Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA) by the well diffusion method [11]. The bacterial suspension (100 μL) was homogeneously seeded onto Petri dishes containing sterile molten MHA (20 mL). The sterile 6 mm diameter wells were impregnated (50 μL) with different concentrations of plant extract (10, 5, and 2.5 mg–200, 100, and 50 μg/mL). The dishes were kept for 1 h at room temperature for the diffusion of the extract. Subsequently, dishes were incubated at 35°C for 24 h. Antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Ciprofloxacin and Gentamicin) were used as positive control (10 μg–200 μg/mL) and 10% aqueous DMSO was used as negative control. Results were evaluated by measuring the inhibition zones around each well. The assay was done in triplicate and the mean diameters recorded as inhibition zones. We considered that an extract is active when ID was up to 20 mm, and then the strain is known as sensitive; moderately active when ID was between 10 and 20 mm, and then the strain is known as moderate; little or not active when ID was between 0 and 10 mm, and then the strain is known as little sensitive or resistant [12, 13].

2.4.2. Broth Microdilution Method

Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB) by microdilution method [14]. A two-fold serial dilution of the crude extract (12.50–0.024 mg/mL) and fractions (1000–1.953 μg/mL and 500–0.242 μg/mL). A negative control (10%, v/v aqueous DMSO, medium and inoculum) and positive control (10%, v/v aqueous DMSO, medium, inoculum and water-soluble antibiotics) were included. Each well of 96-well sterile microtitre plate received 100 μL of MHB, 100 μL of test substances and 100 μL of the bacterial inoculum (1.5 × 108 CFU/mL). The plates were covered and incubated at 35°C for 24 h. As an indicator of bacterial growth, 50 μL p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet (INT) dissolved in water was added to the wells and incubated at 35°C for 30 min. MIC values are recorded as the lowest concentration of the substance that completely inhibited bacterial growth that is, the solution in the well remained clear after incubation with INT. Minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined by plating 10 μL from each negative well and from the positive growth control on Mueller Hinton Agar. MBCs were defined as the lowest concentration yielding negative subcultures. The experiments were performed in triplicate. Amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin at the concentration ranging between 128 and 0.062 μg/mL served as positive control.

2.5. Antioxidant Assay

2.5.1. DPPH Assay

The free radical scavenging activity of the extract and fractions on the stable radical DPPH were estimated by the method of Mensor et al. [15]. 1.5 mL of a methanol solution of sample test at different concentrations (10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 μg/mL) was mixed with a 0.3 mM DPPH methanol solution and kept for 30 min at room temperature. The decrease in the solution absorbance, due to proton donating of substances was measured at 517 nm. L-Ascorbic acid was used as positive control. The percentage of DPPH radical scavenging activity was calculated using the following formula:

2.5.2. β-Carotene-Linoleic Acid Assay

In this assay antioxidant capacity is determined by measuring the inhibition of the volatile organic compounds and the conjugated diene hydroperoxides arising from linoleic acid oxidation [16]. A stock solution of β-carotene-linoleic acid mixture was prepared as follows: 1.5 mg β-carotene was dissolved in 3 mL of chloroform, and 75 μL linoleic acid and 600 mg tween 40 were added. Chloroform was completely evaporated using a vacuum evaporator. Then 150 mL distilled water saturated with oxygen was added with a vigorous shaking. 1340 μL of this reaction mixture was dispersed to test tubes and 160 μL extract (20 mg/mL) were added, and emulsion system was incubated at 55°C for 105 min. Same procedure was repeated with L-Ascorbic acid used as a standard control and a blank. After this incubation period absorbance of the mixtures were measured at 492 nm. Antioxidative capacity of the extract was compared with those of ascorbic acid and blank.

2.6. Phytochemical Screening

Chemical tests were carried out on the methanolic extract and fractions using standard procedures to identify the constituents (alkaloids, anthocyanins, anthraquinones, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, polyphenols, saponins, tannins, triterpenes, and sterols) as described by Brunetton [17].

2.7. Statistical Analysis

Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Waller-Duncan's test. The 12.0 SPSS Windows software was used for this analysis. Differences were considered significant at P < .05.

3. Results

3.1. Extraction and Fractionation

The % yield of methanolic extract of P. hylodendron was 15.96%. FI (43.08%) and FJ (24.54%) were the most abundant.

3.2. Phytochemical Screening

Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of medicinally active constituents. The differences in the composition between crude extract and fractions and between fractions were noted. Except FA, all other substances contained at least one chemical group. Alkaloids, anthocyanins, anthraquinones, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, polyphenols, saponins, and tannins were present in crude extract while coumarins, sterols, and triterpenes were absent. FB, FC, and FD had a similar chemical composition (alkaloids). It is the same for FG and FH (alkaloids, anthocyanins, anthraquinones, flavonoids, phenols, polyphenols, and tannins); FI and FJ (flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, polyphenols, saponins, and tannins).

3.3. Antibacterial Activity

The results of the antibacterial activity by the Agar-well diffusion method are presented in Table 1. At the three concentrations of the methanolic extract tested, ID ranged from 0.00 to 25.00 mm for all the bacteria 15.00–25.00 mm for the isolates 0.00–22.00 mm for the Gram−, and 10.87–25.00 mm for the Gram+. S. aureus was the most sensitive (ID = 20.00–25.00 mm) while S. aureus ATCC 25922 and E. coli ATCC 11775 were the least sensitive (ID = 11.00–15.00 mm and 10.00–14.75 mm resp.). No activity was recorded at 2.5 mg against P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853. However these values are weak compared with those of the reference antibiotics (ID = 12–40 mm).

Table 1

ID (mm) of the methanolic extract of P. hylodendron.

Bacteria	Crude extract (mg/mL)			Reference antibiotic (μg/mL)
	P. hylodendron			Amoxicillin	Ciprofloxacin	Gentamicin
	200	100	50		200
Gram− bacteria
E. coli ATCC 11775	14.75 ± 0.17f	12.25 ± 0.17h	10.00 ± 0.00g	19.00 ± 0.26d	28.25 ± 0.17f	27.00 ± 0.26f
E. coli	21.75 ± 0.13b	19.00 ± 0.00c	16.75 ± 0.17c	40.00 ± 0.00a	27.75 ± 0.17f	26.00 ± 0.00h
P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853	18.62 ± 0.27d	13.75 ± 0.17f	0.00 ± 0.00h	14.50 ± 0.42g	32.50 ± 0.17d	30.00 ± 0.00d
P. mirabilis	20.12 ± 0.12c	18.00 ± 0.00d	16.00 ± 0.00d	16.00 ± 0.00f	33.00 ± 0.00c	33.25 ± 0.17a
S. flexneri	21.75 ± 0.17b	19.75 ± 0.17b	17.50 ± 0.18b	20.00 ± 0.00c	36.50 ± 0.42a	32.00 ± 0.00b
S. paratyphi A	20.25 ± 0.17c	17.00 ± 0.00e	15.00 ± 0.00e	12.00 ± 0.00h	30.00 ± 0.00e	28.00 ± 0.00c
S. paratyphi B	19.75 ± 0.17c	17.62 ± 0.12d	15.12 ± 0.12e	14.25 ± 0.17g	35.00 ± 0.00b	28.25 ± 0.17e
S. typhi ATCC 6539	22.00 ± 0.00b	20.00 ± 0.00b	16.87 ± 0.12c	12.00 ± 0.00h	32.33 ± 0.25d	32.00 ± 0.00b
Gram+ bacteria
E. faecalis ATCC 10541	16.00 ± 0.00e	13.25 ± 0.17g	10.87 ± 0.12f	18.00 ± 0.00e	32.00 ± 0.00d	31.00 ± 0.00c
S. aureus ATCC 25922	15.00 ± 0.00f	13.75 ± 0.17f	11.00 ± 0.00f	20.75 ± 0.17c	35.50 ± 0.18c	30.25 ± 0.17cd
S. aureus	25.00 ± 0.00a	22.00 ± 0.00a	20.00 ± 0.00a	35.00 ± 0.00b	26.00 ± 0.00h	26.75 ± 0.24fh

a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hIn the same column, values carrying different letters in superscript are significantly different at P ≤ .05 (Waller Duncan test).

Diameters of inhibition zones (ID).

In view of the results obtained by diffusion method, MIC and MBC values of the crude extract and fractions were established and the results are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2

MIC and MBC (μg/mL) of the methanolic extract of P. hylodendron.

	Crude extract			Reference antibiotics
Bacteria	P. hylodendron			Amoxicillin			Ciprofloxacin			Gentamicin
	MIC	MBC	MBC/MIC	MIC	MBC	MBC/MIC	MIC	MBC	MBC/MIC	MIC	MBC	MBC/MIC
Gram− bacteria
E. coli ATCC 11775	3125	12500	4	128	—	—	4	4	1	16	128	8
E. coli	1562	—	—	1	1	1	8	8	1	1	1	1
P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853	781	781	1	128	—	—	1	16	16	8	16	2
P. mirabilis	781	6250	8	1	8	8	1	1	1	2	16	8
S. flexneri	3125	—	—	32	64	2	0.25	1	4	0.25	0.25	1
S. paratyphi A	12500	—	—	—	—	—	0.125	0.5	4	2	2	1
S. paratyphi B	1562	6250	4	1	8	8	0.5	2	4	2	16	8
S. typhi ATCC 6539	1562	6250	4	—	—	—	0.25	2	8	32	128	4
Gram+ bacteria
E. faecalis ATCC 10541	1562	6250	4	1	1	1	4	16	4	1	1	1
S. aureus ATCC 25922	3125	6250	2	—	—	—	8	8	1	4	16	4
S. aureus	781	1562	2	1	—	—	8	8	1	0.25	0.25	1

—:12500 μg/mL for the extract and >128 μg/mL for the reference antibiotics.

Table 3

MIC and MBC (μg/mL) of the fractions from chromatography separation of P. hylodendron.

Bacteria	Parameters	Fractions										Reference antibiotics
		FA	FB	FC	FD	FE	FF	FG	FH	FI	FJ	Amox	Cipro	Genta
Gram− bacteria
E. coli ATCC 11775	MIC	—	—	—	—	500	—	62.5	500	1000	1000	128	4	16
	MBC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	128
	MBC/MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	8
E. coli	MIC	—	—	—	—	0.97	0.97	62.5	500	1000	1000	1	8	1
	MBC	—	—	—	—	—	—	250	—	—	—	1	8	1
	MBC/MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	—	—	—	1	8	1
P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853	MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.24	1000	1000	1000	128	1	8
	MBC	—	—	—	—	—	—	250	—	—	—	—	16	16
	MBC/MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	20	—	—	—	—	16	2
P. mirabilis	MIC	—	—	—	—	0.97	0.97	—	250	500	1000	1	1	2
	MBC	—	—	—	—	125	62.5	—	—	—	—	8	1	16
	MBC/MIC	—	—	—	—	14	12	—	—	—	—	8	1	8
S. flexneri	MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	250	500	1000	32	0.25	0.25
	MBC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	64	1	0.25
	MBC/MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	4	1
S. paratyphi A	MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	500	1000	1000	—	—	0.125	2
	MBC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.5	2
	MBC/MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	1
S. paratyphi B	MIC	—	—	—	—	0.97	0.97	500	500	500	1000	1	0.5	2
	MBC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8	2	16
	MBC/MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8	4	8
S. typhi ATCC 6539	MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	500	1000	—	—	—	0.25	32
	MBC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	128
	MBC/MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8	4
Gram+ bacteria
E. faecalis ATCC 10541	MIC	—	—	—	—	0.97	0.97	0.24	500	1000	1000	1	4	1
	MBC	—	—	—	—	0.97	250	0.24	—	—	—	1	16	1
	MBC/MIC	—	—	—	—	1	16	1	—	—	—	1	4	1
S. aureus ATCC 25922	MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	500	—	—	—	8	4
	MBC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8	16
	MBC/MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	4
S. aureus	MIC	—	—	—	—	0.97	0.97	0.24	500	125	250	1	8	0.25
	MBC	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.97	—	—	—	—	8	0.25
	MBC/MIC	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	—	—	—	—	1	1

F: fraction; Amox: amoxicillin; Cipro: ciprofloxacin; Genta: gentamicin.

—:>1000 μg/mL for the fractions, and >128 μg/mL for the reference antibiotic.

All the bacteria tested were inhibited by the methanolic extract (Table 2) with MIC ranging from 781–12500 μg/mL for all the bacteria, isolates, and Gram−; 781–3125 μg/mL for the strains and Gram+. S. paratyphi A was the least sensitive (MIC = 12500 μg/mL). P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, P. mirabilis and S. aureus were the most sensitive (MIC = 781 μg/mL). The important activity on S. aureus confirms the best activity obtained in solid medium; which revealed this germ as one of the most susceptible. Antibiotics exerted a higher inhibitory effect on bacterial (MIC = 0.125–128 μg/mL) than the methanolic extract.

The fractionation of the methanolic extract showed an inactivity of FA, FB, FC and FD on all the bacteria tested (Table 3). On the contrary, FE and FF saw their activity increasing significantly. Indeed, on five of the eleven bacteria (E. coli, P. mirabilis, S. paratyphi B, E. faecalis ATCC 10541, S. aureus), MIC was 0.97 μg/mL, making the substances more active than reference antibiotics. FG had a fairly good activity (MIC = 0.24 μg/mL) on some bacteria (P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, E. faecalis ATCC 10541, S. aureus) whereas FH, FI and FJ were slightly active (MIC = 125–1000 μg/mL). S. aureus ATCC 25922 was almost resistant to all the fractions (MIC > 1000 μg/mL). The MBC/MIC ratio activity for all the bacteria tested varied between one (1) and eight (8) for the crude extract and between one (1) and twenty (20) for the fractions. According to Marmonier [18], plant extract and fractions exerted two types of activities: a bacteriostatic (MBC/MIC ≥ 4) and bactericidal activity (MBC/MIC ≤ 4). Methanolic extract and fractions of P. hylodendron were bactericidal on at least 63% and 27% of the bacteria respectively.

3.4. Antioxidant Activity

The antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract and fractions was assessed by the DPPH and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. The results are presented in Tables 4 and 5. Activity increased in a concentration-dependant manner compared to L-ascorbic acid (positive antioxidant control). At the concentrations of 500 and 1000 μg/mL the methanolic extract, FE, FF, FG, FH, FI and FJ showed a similar activity to that one of L-ascorbic acid. FH  was the most antioxidant fraction (94.05–98.79%) while FA  was the least antioxidant (1.86–21.26%).

Table 4

Antioxidant potential of the crude extract and fractions of P. hylodendron and L- ascorbic acid in DPPH assay.

Substances tested	% inhibition concentration (μg/mL)
	1000	500	100	50	10
FA	21.26 ± 0.24f	19.69 ± 0.17i	11.83 ± 0.47ef	05.28 ± 0.26j	1.86 ± 0.17m
FB	22.40 ± 0.94f	18.80 ± 0.10j	09.19 ± 0.20f	08.83 ± 0.34i	04.20 ± 0.17l
FC	42.58 ± 0.50e	28.16 ± 0.29h	12.31 ± 0.41e	10.87 ± 0.38h	08.65 ± 0.00k
FD	67.98 ± 0.72d	52.13 ± 0.10g	20.24 ± 0.45d	17.83 ± 0.28g	10.81 ± 0.37j
FE	95.73 ± 0.26bc	94.95 ± 0.00d	94.05 ± 0.14a	91.77 ± 0.33cd	26.30 ± 0.20h
FF	95.37 ± 0.10bc	94.65 ± 0.10d	93.75 ± 0.10a	93.33 ± 0.14ab	83.42 ± 0.48d
FG	97.83 ± 0.37ab	95.55 ± 0.17c	94.65 ± 0.17a	92.79 ± 0.29bc	91.89 ± 0.28b
FH	98.79 ± 0.33ab	96.21 ± 0.13b	94.47 ± 0.26a	94.29 ± 0.26a	94.05 ± 0.20a
FI	95.49 ± 0.14bc	94.83 ± 0.17d	93.93 ± 0.33a	92.67 ± 0.38bc	70.08 ± 0.64f
FJ	95.85 ± 0.00bc	95.13 ± 0.14cd	93.57 ± 0.30a	93.21 ± 0.17ab	74.23 ± 0.14e
PH	95.13 ± 0.14bc	93.87 ± 0.28e	93.39 ± 0.10a	91.35 ± 0.14d	89.42 ± 0.26c
ASC	100.00 ± 0.00a	100.00 ± 0.00a	87.36 ± 0.00b	53.23 ± 0.00e	29.42 ± 0.00g

F: fraction; PH: methanolic extract of P. hylodendron; ASC: L-ascorbic acid.

a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j,k,l,mIn the same column, values carrying different letters in superscript are significantly different at P ≤ .05 (Waller Duncan test).

Table 5

Antioxidant potential of the crude extract of P. hylodendron and L-ascorbic acid in β-carotene-linoleic acid assay.

Substances tested	% inhibition concentration (μg/mL)
	1000	500	100	50	10
PH	38.03 ± 0.25b	31.83 ± 0.16a	31.80 ± 0.00a	30.47 ± 0.08a	27.73 ± 0.08a
ASC	56.48 ± 0.05a	27.73 ± 0.02b	20.20 ± 0.00b	19.86 ± 0.00b	17.81 ± 0.02b

PH: methanolic extract of P. hylodendron; ASC: L-ascorbic acid.

a,bIn the same column, values carrying different letters in superscript are significantly different at P ≤ .05 (Waller Duncan test).

4. Discussion and Conclusion

Phytochemical screening of the methanolic extract and fractions of P. hylodendron revealed the presence alkaloids, anthocyanins, anthraquinones, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, polyphenols, saponins and tannins. Other investigators [19, 20] have reported the presence of these components in the Combretaceae family to which belongs the studied plant. However, Ngounou et al. [21] and Atta-Ur-Rahman et al. [22] working on the stem bark of P. hylodendron collected from East region of Cameroon revealed the presence of triterpenes which were absent in our sample. This difference can be attributed to the difference in the geographical region, soil composition, and age of the plant [17].

The antimicrobial activities of Pteleopsis species were reported [19, 23]. Generally, the methanolic extract and some fractions of the stem bark of P. hylodendron showed variable antibacterial activities dose-dependant on the eleven bacterial strains and isolates tested. These broad spectra of action could be related to their chemical components [24]. Among these compounds, tannins induce an important antimicrobial activity because they have an ability to inactivate microbial adhesions, enzymes, cell envelope transport proteins, and so forth, [25]. Due to their ability to bind to proteins and metals, tannins also inhibit the growth of microorganisms through substrate and metal ion deprivation [26]. However, differences in chemical composition recorded between the crude extract and some fractions may explain their different degree of antimicrobial properties. Also, the amount of the active components in the crude extract may be diluted and fractionation may have increased their concentrations, thus the activities in the fractions [27]. Moreover, the differences in susceptibility may be explained by the differences in cell wall composition and/or genetic content of plasmids that can be easily transferred among strains [28]. MIC values obtained from the extract by micro-dilution method revealed that S. aureus is the most sensitive. It was reported [29] that S. aureus is one of the most susceptible bacteria to the plant extracts. These values also showed that the Gram− and Gram+ bacteria had a comparable susceptibility. This may suggest that the mode of action of the extract was not related to the cell wall composition. S. aureus ATCC 25922 which was inhibited completely by the methanolic extract at 3125 μg/mL, was almost resistant to all the fractions. This may suggest that this microbe required high concentrations of the substance tested and synergic effect of chemical compounds as extract. FA, FB, FC, and FD containing only alkaloids did not show any inhibitory effect on the bacteria tested. This may suggest these compounds which also present in the methanolic extract do not have a detectable antibacterial activity. However, alkaloids were reported to possess antibacterial activities [30]. FE and FF, most active had a comparable chemical composition that FG. Differences in activity between these fractions could be related to the absence of anthocyanins in FF and anthraquinones in FE. Generally, it is difficult at the sight of results of the phytochemical screening to attribute the activities recorded to a chemical compounds group.

As L-ascorbic acid, the methanolic extract and some fractions showed great antioxidant potentials. This particularly high activity could be attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds [31]. The antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds is mainly due to their redox properties, which can play an important role in neutralizing free radicals, quenching singlet and triplet oxygen species, or decomposing peroxides [32]. Numerous studies have suggested flavonoids, anthraquinones, anthocyanins and tannins [33, 34] for antioxidant activity. Previous phytochemical investigations on this plant have reported the presence of ellagic acid derivatives as antioxidant source [22].

These results provide promising baseline information for the potential use of this plant as well as some of the fractions in the treatment of GE and oxidative stress. FE and FF by their high antibacterial activity could be the base of development of new antibacterial agents with broad spectra. Their purification and pharmacological and toxicity studies are essential.