In-vitro antimicrobial activity of Lactuca Sativa Leaves against Isolated Clarithromycin-resistant Superbugs

Abstract

Antibiotics were one of the modern advancements in the 20th century, but they have been less active and have become more alarming due to antibiotic resistance. Antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic microorganisms is rapidly increasing, posing a danger to human health. However, the most essential biologically bioactive components are sourced by plants and are industrially used to produce drugs against several antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antimicrobial agents based on plants possess fewer side effects and have immense potential than available drugs in clinics to combat superbugs. This study investigated bioactive components of Lactuca sativa (Lettuce) that were energetic in our research against Clarithromycin-resistant bacteria. Lactuca sativa had a substantially stronger antimicrobial effect on gram-negative bacteria than it did on gram-positive. Using a UV-visible spectrophotometer at 600nm, distinct behaviors of isolated bacteria were detected at varied optical densities; the highest activity was reported at 1 ml/50ml. Various phytochemicals were detected qualitatively, including carbohydrates, proteins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and tannins. Anthraquinones and glycosides were not discovered in lettuce. A quantitative investigation was conducted to detect unique phenolic compounds using High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with varied peaks. Gallic acid, syringic acid, sinapic acid, and vanillin were identified as phenolic components by HPLC. However, further study on the analysis of isolated phytochemicals is required to identify novel antibiotics and their rapid and plant-based control and the proper management of antibiotic resistance spread and its risk to human health.