Phytochemical and Antibacterial Assessment of Rhagadiolus Stellatus Plant in Jerusalem Area - Palestine

In Palestine, many edible wild plants serve as food and medicine in the folk traditions. Now days, contemporary people, cultures, and traditions are increasingly losing their close connection with nature. Preliminary phytochemical screening including estimation of total phenols and flavonoids contents, as well as antioxidant and antibacterial properties, were evaluated for Rhagadiolus stellatus plant using standard phytochemical and biological methods. Evaluation of antibacterial activities of the aqueous extract was performed using the broth micro-dilution method. Antibacterial activities were examined against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC’s and MRSA. The methanolic plant extract contains a mixture of phytochemical compounds such as flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, phenols, alkaloids, phytosterols and volatile oil. Total flavonoids and phenols contents were 18.35±1.11 mg QUE/g and 38.55±0.95 mg GAE/g of the plant extract, respectively. The methanolic extract also had potential antioxidant properties, while the aqueous extract has significant antibacterial properties. This study has provided initial data that justify the importance of Rh. stellatus in traditional folkloric food and medicine. The studied species can be used in the prevention and treatment of various infectious diseases. The tested extract not only exhibited antioxidant properties, but also contained bioactive constituents. It can also be utilized as natural food preservatives, nutritional supplements and in pharmaceutical industries.