DOI: 10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.20 ISSN: 2578-8353

Evaluating the Efficacy of Terminalia arjuna Bark Extract Against Solanaceous Pathogens

Kamalendu Patra, Vishaka V., Swastik Behera
Show PDF Cite
Global food security is largely dependent on the production of Solanaceous crops, namely tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), and eggplants (Solanum melongena). However, these crops are still extremely susceptible to destructive phytopathogens. The antibacterial activity of Terminalia arjuna bark extracts was assessed in this study against a specific complex of pathogens, which included Gram-negative bacterial surrogates for Ralstonia solanacearum, Alternaria solani (early blight), and Fusarium oxysporum (vascular wilt). To separate the bioactive components, bark samples were treated to Soxhlet extraction employing a polarity gradient ranging from petroleum ether to water. Phytochemical profiling confirmed that polar acetonic and methanolic fractions were significantly enriched with triterpenoid saponins, hydrolyzable tannins, and flavonoids. In vitro evaluations using broth microdilution and agar well diffusion demonstrated a clear solvent-dependent effectiveness. Significantly, acetonic extracts showed better antifungal activity, producing zones of inhibition (ZOI) ranging from 17.5 to 20.0 mm. These results are statistically equivalent to those of traditional synthetic fungicides. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values ranged from 0.16 to 2.56 mg/mL, indicating a high level of effectiveness. The discovered antibacterial action is mostly ascribed to the polar secondary metabolites' synergistic inhibition of fungal ergosterol production. The plant's protective chemicals are concentrated in its polar extracts, as evidenced by the non-polar fractions' little activity. These results establish Terminalia arjuna as a potent source of environmentally benign, resistance-breaking bio-compounds that provide a long-term substitute for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in high-value Solanaceous agriculture.

More from our Archive