Antimicrobial Activity of Syzygium Aromaticum and Its Main Constituents ; Against Vagina-Related Pathogens

Leow, Kai Zhe (2025) Antimicrobial Activity of Syzygium Aromaticum and Its Main Constituents ; Against Vagina-Related Pathogens. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

Vaginal-related pathogens are capable of causing vulvovaginal infection (VVI) and urinary tract infection (UTI), affecting women’s quality of life. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum), an ancient spice, is famous for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, highlighting its potential as an alternative antimicrobial agent. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of Clove extract against various vaginal-related pathogens alongside the synergy between eugenol and kaempferol towards this effect. The Clove ethanolic extract (CEE) was analyzed using reverse phase HPLC (RP-HPLC). The presence of eugenol and kaempferol in CEE was identified and quantified. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of CEE against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were determined by broth microdilution assay. The antimicrobial synergistic effect of eugenol and kaempferol at concentrations corresponding to the amount present in CEE was also tested. RP-HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of eugenol (17.8% w/w, retention time 4.7 min) and kaempferol (0.385% w/w, retention time 6.0 min) in CEE. MICs of CEE against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus is 2000 μg/ml (corresponding concentration of eugenol: 356 μg/ml, kaempferol: 7.7 μg/ml) and Klebsiella pneumoniae 750 μg/ml (eugenol: 133.5 μg/ml, kaempferol: 2.8875 μg/ml). No synergistic effect was observed between eugenol and kaempferol tested at the corresponding concentrations of CEE. The MIC of CEE (containing 356 μg/ml eugenol and 7.7 μg/ml kaempferol) against E. coli was lower than eugenol’s MIC alone (445 μg/ml). Kaempferol alone, on the other hand, did not display any antimicrobial activity against E. coli. This ultimately suggested that other compounds in CEE, except kaempferol, enhanced eugenol’s antimicrobial activity against E. coli. In conclusion, CEE is still a stronger antimicrobial agent than eugenol, kaempferol or both compounds together when tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Nonetheless, eugenol demonstrated a better antimicrobial effect against E. coli than kaempferol but still a weaker counterpart than CEE. Overall, CEE seems promising to be developed into an alternative natural antibiotic.