Assessment of the Antibacterial Properties of Mangifera Indica Extracts against Clinically Relevant Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health threat that has reduced the effectiveness of many conventional antibiotics, highlighting the need for alternative antimicrobial agents. Mangifera indica , widely used in traditional medicine, contains bioactive phytochemicals with reported antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of extracts from different parts of the mango against clinically important bacterial pathogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four mango varieties (Ashina, Langra, Guti, and Lakhna) were collected from Rajshahi District, Bangladesh. Skin and flesh extracts were prepared using aqueous extraction, whereas seed kernel extracts were obtained with methanol and ethanol. Antibacterial activity against six pathogenic bacteria ( Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Vibrio spp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Staphylococcus spp.) was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method, and zones of inhibition were measured in millimeters. RESULTS: All mango parts exhibited antibacterial activity with varying effectiveness. Seed kernel extracts showed the strongest inhibitory effects, particularly methanolic extracts, which produced inhibition zones ranging from 25 to 35 mm. The highest activity (35 mm) was observed with the methanolic seed kernel extract of the Ashina variety against Salmonella spp. and E. coli . Ethanol extracts also showed strong activity (24–33 mm). Skin extracts displayed moderate activity (11–19 mm), whereas flesh extracts showed comparatively weaker and inconsistent effects, with no inhibition against Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus spp. CONCLUSION: M. indica , particularly its seed kernel, exhibits notable broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and may serve as a promising natural source of antimicrobial compounds. Further phytochemical characterization and in vivo studies are required to confirm its therapeutic potential.