Probing Antibacterial and Anticancer Potential of Selenicereus undatus, Pistacia vera L. and Olea europaea L. against Uropathogens, MCF-7 and A2780 Cancer Cells

Abstract

Urinary tract infection is an infectious disease that requires immediate treatment. It can occur in any age group and involves both genders equally. The present study was to check the resistance of some antibiotics and to assess the antibacterial potential of three extracts of three plants against notorious bacteria involved in urinary tract infections. Along with assessing the antibacterial activity of plant extracts, we checked for the anticancer potential of these extracts against the cancer cell lines MCF-7 and A2780. Cancer is the leading cause of mortality in developed countries. Determinations of total flavonoid content, total phenolic content, total alkaloid content, total tannin content, total carotenoid content, and total steroid content were performed. The disk diffusion method was used to analyze the antibacterial activity of plant extracts. Ethanolic extract of Selenicereus undatus showed sensitivity (25–28 mm) against bacteria, whereas chloroform and hexane extracts showed resistance against all bacteria except Staphylococcus (25 mm). Ethanolic extract of Pistacia vera L. showed sensitivity (22–25 mm) against bacteria, whereas chloroform and hexane extracts showed resistance. Ethanolic extract of Olea europaea L. showed sensitivity (8–16 mm) against all bacteria except Staphylococcus, whereas chloroform and hexane extracts showed resistance. Positive controls showed variable zones of inhibition (2–60 mm), and negative control showed 0–1 mm. The antibiotic resistance was much more prominent in the case of hexane and chloroform extracts of all plants, whereas ethanolic extract showed a sensitivity of bacteria against extracts. Both cell lines, MCF-7 and A2780, displayed decreased live cells when treated with plant extracts.