Chemical profiling and antioxidant activity of Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. stem extract, a potential traditional medicinal plant for urinary tract infections

Abstract

Abstract Background Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. (E. ramosissimum) is a widely used traditional medicinal plant to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) by ethnic people throughout the world. The utility of the plant in treating urinary-related disorders was evaluated against selected pathogenic bacteria which has major role in causing UTIs. Hence, the present study executed to extract phytochemicals like total phenolics and flavonoids, chemical profiling by GC–MS analysis and to test their antioxidant activity from stem extracts of E. ramosissimum. The extraction process was directed by petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous solvents. Results The GC–MS analysis yielded 24 phytoconstituents with linoleic acid, palmitic acid, nonacosane, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, and octacosane as major compounds. Methanolic extract yielded maximum amount of phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) with 600.02 ± 0.22 mg GAE/g and 631.38 ± 0.69 mg QE/g, respectively. Methanolic extract also exhibited notable free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 123.89 ± 0.73, 150.10 ± 1.02, 146.01 ± 0.54, and 63.73 ± 6.12 µg/mL for DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and O2− assays, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) required to inhibit the growth of tested pathogenic bacteria was observed in aqueous and methanolic extracts with the value being 31.25 µg/mL against R. equi and V. cholerae. As like, methanolic and petroleum ether extracts efficiently inhibited the growth of B. subtilis with the MIC of 31.25 µg/mL. Conclusion It was concluded that the notable effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts against the uropathogenic bacteria reported in this study supported the traditional uses of this plant in treating UTIs. The results acquired from this investigation revealed that E. ramosissimum stem extract might be considered as an interesting candidate in the development of antibacterial agent against UTIs coupled with antioxidant properties.