Phytochemical
and Anatomical Profiling of Terminalia catappa Linn., Fruit Rinds: A Multi-Targeted
Approach to Resistant Human Pathogens
Thomas Sowmya and George Jeya Jothi
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 21(1); 38-51;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/211rjbt038051; (2026)
Abstract
Terminalia catappa Linn. is a pharmaceutically recognized avenue tree belonging
to the family Combretaceae. Various parts of the plant are recognized for their
anti-diabetic, antioxidant and antibacterial potential. This study aimed to comprehensively
analyse the anatomy, histochemical compounds, phytochemical compounds, secondary
metabolites through the Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) characterization
and antibacterial properties. Different solvents, ranging from low-polarity to high-polarity
solvents, were employed to extract various phytocompounds. Qualitative and quantitative
phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids,
tannins and other secondary metabolites, with the aqueous extract showing the highest
concentrations of phenols, flavonoids and tannins.
The antibacterial screening demonstrated efficient activity of ethanolic and aqueous
extracts against a wide spectrum of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by
following the agar-well method, with the ethanolic extract showing the highest zones
of inhibition. The GC–MS analysis identified significant secondary metabolites,
having potent antibacterial properties. This research underscores the pharmaceutical
applications of T catappa fruit rinds (TCFR) and contributes to the developing interest
in organic research by providing insights into the bioactive compounds of TCFR and
the development of plant-based multi-drug-resistant (MDR) antibacterial therapeutics.
