Crescentia cujete Leaves Extract: A Source of Bioactive Compounds for the Development of Antibacterial Agents

References

[1] M. Naghavi, A. Khalil, C. Troeger, J. Reiner, A. Sartorius, et al. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance 1990-2021: forecasts to 2050. The Lancet, 2024. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01867-1/fulltext

[2] S. Dubale, Y. Alemayehu, D. Tadesse, M. Yilma, B. Wubneh. Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of selected Ethiopian medicinal plants. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9922502/

[3] F.O. Balogun, A.O. Abioye, S. Sabiu. A review of the phytochemistry, ethnobotany, toxicology and pharmacology of Crescentia cujete, Plants, 2021, 10(7), 1334. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8282368/

[4] A.L. Gonzales, R.C. Rigor, J.M. Mendoza, M.V. Gonzales. In silico analysis of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Crescentia cujete. Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 2023, 13(3): 139. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10145697/

[5] T. Sultana, R. Akter, M. Alam, S. Moniruzzaman, S. Haque, F. Islam. Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of acetone leaf extracts across edible plants. Current Research in Food Science, 2023, 6, 100447. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772753X23003775

[6] F.O. Balogun, A.O. Abioye, S. Sabiu. A review of the phytochemistry, ethnobotany, toxicology and pharmacology of Crescentia cujete, Plants, 2021, 10(7), 1334. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8282368/

[7] M. Olaniyi, I.O. Lawal, A.A. Olaniyi. Proximate, phytochemical screening and mineral analysis of Crescentia cujete L. leaves. International Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences, 2019.

[8] N.S. Sari, N.D. Kuswytasari, A.P.D. Nurhayati. Antibacterial activity test of wet and dried extracts of Calabash tree (Crescentia cujete L.) against Aeromonas hydrophila. Jurnal Biota, 2020, 6(1).

[9] F. Galeotti, E. Barile, P. Curir, M. Dolci, V. Lanzotti. Flavonoids from Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) and their antifungal activity. Phytochemistry Letters, 2008, 1: 44–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2007.10.001

[10] J.B. Harborne. Phytochemical Methods. Chapman and Hall, 2nd ed., London, 1973.

[11] J.K. Chaval, S.S. Kadam, D.K. Salunkhe. Dietary Tannins: Consequences and Remedies. CRC Press, 2006, p.177.

[12] L.P. Garrod, P.M. Waterworth, L.D. Lambert. Antibiotics and Chemotherapy. Church Livingstone, London, 1963, 4: 102–148.

[13] J.A. Cidlowski. Anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticoids: new mechanisms of old drugs. New England Journal of Medicine. 2005, 353(16), 1711-1723. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra050541

[14] M.E. Halilu, M. Balogun, A. Agungun, A. Abubakar, M.S. Abubakar. Isolation and characterization of steroids from petroleum ether extract of stem bark of Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae). Journal of Natural Science Research, 2013, 3: 53–61.

[15] E.O. Ajayi, F.O. Akinmoladun, T.R. Komolafe, A.O. Komolafe. Phytochemical screening, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of ethanol extracts of Senna alata leaves. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2020, 20(1): 120. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-02902-1

[16] M. Balouiri, M. Sadiki, S.K. Ibnsouda. Methods for in vitro evaluating antimicrobial activity. A Review Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis, 2016, 6(2), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpha.2015.11.005

[17] H.W. Boucher, G.H. Talbot, D.K. Benjamin Jr., J. Bradley, R.J. Guidos, R.N. Jones, B. Murray, L.B. Rice, M. E. Scheld, B. Spellberg, J. Bartlett. 10 × '20 Progress—development of new drugs active against gram-negative bacilli: an update from the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2013, 56(12), 1685-1694. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cit152

[18] Y. Tsukamoto, S. Ikeda, M. Kobayashi. Antioxidant activity of olive oil phenolic compounds and their effect on hepatic injury. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2000, 48(11): 4561–4564. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf000327z

[19] M.I. Covas, V. Ruiz-Gutiérrez, R. de la Torre, M. Kafatos, J. Lamuela-Raventos, G. Osada, F.J. Owen, G. Visioli. Minor components of olive oil: Evidence to date of health benefits in humans. Nutrition Reviews, 2006, 64(suppl_2): S20–S30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2006.tb00263.x

[20] R.W. Owen, W. Mier, A. Giacosa, W.E. Hull, B. Spiegelhalder, H. Bartsch. Phenolic compounds and squalene in olive oils: The concentration and antioxidant potential. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2000, 48(6), 2358-2363. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf990819p

[21] M.M. Suleiman, M.I. Abdullahi, H. Musa. Phytochemical and antibacterial evaluation of selected medicinal plants. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 2019, 13(8): 179–187. https://doi.org/10.5897/JMPR2019.6789

[22] O.O. Ogunlana, F.O. Akinmoladun, T.R. Komolafe. Alkaloids and their antimicrobial potentials: A review. Microbial Pathogenesis, 2021, 152, 104617. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104617

[23] JA. Olanrewaju, O.O. Oladipo, O.O. Adeleke. Phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of Crescentia cujete leaves extract. Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research, 2020, 4(12): 1030–1035. https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v4i12.9

[24] F. O. Balogun, A. O. Abioye, S. Sabiu. A review of the phytochemistry, ethnobotany, toxicology and pharmacology of Crescentia cujete. 2021. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12:703421. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.703421

[25] Bactericidal versus bacteriostatic antibacterials: clinical significance. 2024. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 80(1): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkaa340

[26] Minimum inhibitory concentration of antibiotics: methods. 2021. PLOS Biology, 19(3): e1002689. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002689

[27] Busting the myth of ‘static vs cidal’: a systematic literature review. 2018. Frontiers in Microbiology, 9: 873. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00873

[28] Pharmacological activities of bioactive compounds from Crescentia cujete (L.) plant — a review. 2022. Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 13(2), 197-210. https://doi.org/10.33263/BRIAC132.197

[29] Evaluation of in vitro anti-inflammatory and antibacterial potential of Crescentia cujete 2015. BMC Complement and Alternative Medicine, 15, 186. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-015-0705-3

[30] Antibacterial activity of Crescentia cujete seed oil on three strains of bacteria. 2020. Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences.

[31] M. C. Tan, J. C. Jose-Tan. Phytochemical and antioxidant profiling of different solvent extractions of calabash (Crescentia cujete L.). 2025. Asian Journal of Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2025.33901

@article{1714697,
      author = {Ibrahim Muhammad, Ibrahim Almustapha Abubakar},
      title = {Crescentia cujete Leaves Extract: A Source of Bioactive Compounds for the Development of Antibacterial Agents},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {9},
      number = {8},
      pages = {2108-2114},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1714697.pdf},
      abstract = {This study focused on the phytochemical screening and antibacterial analysis of Crescentia cujete leaves extract, a plant widely used in traditional medicine. The leaves were extracted using ethanol through maceration, and the crude extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening and antibacterial testing against some selected bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Shigella). The qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, and cardiac glycosides with carbohydrates and proteins,, while anthraquinones were absent. The antibacterial activity results showed that the extract exhibited inhibitory effects against the tested bacteria, with zones of inhibition ranging between 0.40 mm and 1.95 mm. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) demonstrated sensitivity of S. aureus and B. subtilis at higher concentrations, while E. coli and Shigella were comparatively more resistant. Similarly, the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) results revealed that bactericidal activity varied with bacterial type and concentration, indicating both bacteriostatic and bactericidal potentials of the extract. The findings validate the ethnomedicinal use of Crescentia cujete leaves and highlight their potential as a source of natural antibacterial agents.},
      keywords = {Crescentia cujete, Leaves, Extract, Phytochemical, Antibacteria},
      month = {February},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I8-1714697}
  }