Preliminary Assessment of the Phytochemical Components and Antibacterial Activity of Cinnamomum mindanaense Bark Extract Against Staphyloccocus aureus

A pilot study was conducted to identify the bioactive phytochemical constituents and evaluate the antibacterial activity of Cinnamomum mindanaense. This research was done in line with the thrust of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order (DAO) to characterize and assess the potentials of the 19 Cinnamomum species endemic in the Philippines. Crude extract was tested for the presence of sterols, triterpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, and tannins. The antibacterial activity, as indicated by diameter of zone of inhibition, was tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (a gram-positive bacterium) and Chloramphenicol (a commercial antibiotic) at 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 75 mg/ml, and 100 mg/ml extract concentrations in eight replications. Phytochemical analysis showed that C. mindanaense bark is rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, and triterpenes. Bark extracts showed moderate antibacterial activity. ANOVA test showed significant group differences. Using post hoc Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test, antibacterial activity of Chloramphenicol treatment was significantly higher than those effected by 25 mg/ ml, 50 mg/ml, 75 mg/ml, or 100 mg/ml bark extract concentration (p<0.001). Extract concentrations of 75 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml were found not significantly different (p=0.564); also between 25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml concentrations (p=0.059). Highly significant difference was found between concentrations of 100 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml and 25 mg/ml, and 75 mg/ml and 25 mg/ ml (p<0.001). Plot of zone of inhibition (y) against treatment concentration (x) suggests linear relationship. Further study is recommended to address this observation and to validate findings by increasing the number of replications.