CHEMICAL PROFILE AND IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF THE HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF MANGUIFERA INDICA

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the chemical profile of the hydroalcoholic extract of Mangifera indica L. flowers and evaluate its in vitro antimicrobial activity against a panel of clinically significant bacterial strains. Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract was obtained by maceration with ethanol 70% (v/v), followed by concentration and lyophilization. Chemical characterization was performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against eight bacterial strains (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) using the microdilution broth technique to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). Vancomycin, gentamicin, and ampicillin were used as positive controls. Results: HPLC-MS analysis identified ten phenolic compounds, with ellagic acid (30.1 mg/g), ethyl gallate (21.1 mg/g), and ethyl digallate (20.6 mg/g) as the major constituents. The extract exhibited significant and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, with MIC values ranging from 3.09 to 5.57 mg/L and MBC values from 5.40 to 10.72 mg/L. The highest activity was observed against E. coli (MIC = 3.09 mg/L) and P. aeruginosa (MIC = 3.26 mg/L). The extract demonstrated superior or comparable activity to conventional antibiotics (vancomycin, gentamicin, and ampicillin) against most tested strains. Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of M. indica flowers presents a promising and broad-spectrum antimicrobial profile, particularly against multidrug-resistant bacteria.