RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Antibiotic resistance is rising, prompting innovative strategies for eradicating the epidemic. This study investigated the antibacterial properties of the leaves of a widely used medicinal plant, Adhatoda vasica. METHODS: The plant's polar (water, methanol) and non-polar (hexane) extracts were tested against several different bacterial strains using the disc diffusion technique. RESULTS: In a study, it was found that the water extract had the greatest inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus simulans and Staphylococcus aureus, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 16.444 and 19.315â¯g/mL, respectively. Gram-negative strains were more susceptible to plant extracts than Gram-positive strains. The phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, and steroids, where absorbance was recorded at 415â¯nm. The water extract had the highest amount of phenolics, with a total phenolic content of 53.92 0.47â¯mg and a total flavonoid content of 7.25 0.08â¯mg. Results suggest that the extract may have potential therapeutic applications for antimicrobial properties. CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that the extract's phenolic group of secondary metabolites were responsible for its antibacterial activity. The study highlights A. vasica as a promising source for discovering new and effective antibacterial compounds.