Phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity activities of Schinus molle (L.) extracts

Schinus molle seeds and leaves are frequently employed in traditional medicine to treat a range of diseases. This study aims to explore the potential of Schinus mole (L.) seed and leaf extracts in terms of their phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. The study utilized GC-MS spectroscopy, antimicrobials, antioxidants, and cytotoxicity techniques to evaluate the extracts. The result of phytochemical analysis revealed that Schinus molle seed extract contains seven peaks with a major compound, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (59.11%), followed by n-hexadecanoic acid (10.84), while Schinus molle leaf extract exhibits sixteen peaks with a main compound, squalene (16.87%), followed by azulene (14.88%) and lupeol (12.4%). The Schinus molle seeds and leaf exhibited the high antimicrobial activity with inhibition zones ranging from 15 ± 0.57 to 27.33 ± 0.88 mm against tested microorganisms. In addition, it was investigated that the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of different extracts against microbial strains, including Bacillus cereus , Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883, and Cryptococcus neoformans , were found to be 62.5 μg/ml, while Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has a MIC of 125 μg/ml with seed extract and 250 μg/ml with leaf extract. The other strains, including Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhimurium , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , have a MIC of 500 μg/ml in both seed and leaf extracts. Schinus molle seeds and leaf exhibited considerable antioxidant action compared with ascorbic acid. Moreover, significant variation in the effects on Allium cepa root tips was observed upon treatment with Schinus molle seed and leaf extracts. The mitotic index in the group receiving Schinus molle seed and leaf extract showed a significant decrease when compared to the control cells. This decrease was based on the duration and dosage of exposure. On the other hand, there was a clear increase in the occurrence of chromosomal abnormalities. Finally, the findings showed that Schinus molle seed and leaf extract exhibit antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticytotoxic activities and revealed that they are a significant source of bioactive compounds with the possibility of use in biomedical applications.