Antibacterial, phytochemical and GC-MS analysis of Thevetia peruviana extracts: An approach in drug formulation

Thevetia peruviana is a large flowering shrub in the Apocynaceae family used medicinally. The current study aims to determine the phytochemicals and antimicrobial potential of T. peruviana. GC-MS was used to screen the ethanol and n-hexane extracts. Leaf extracts (ethanol and hexane) revealed alkaloids, phenols, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, steroid glycosides, carbohydrates, proteins, terpenoids, terpenoids and fixed oils and fats. GC-MS analysis of the ethanol and hexane extract revealed 24 bioactive metabolites. T. peruviana leaf extracts inhibited tested pathogens at 50, 100, and 200 mg/ml concentrations. A plethora of secondary metabolites demonstrated promising pharmacological benefits. The bioactive chemicals are utilised to treat bacterial infections, cancer, diabetes, and inflammation. This study demonstrated the antibacterial activity of several plants used in traditional medicine.