The leaves of Arbutus unedo traditionally were used in Mediterranean folk medicine. In this study phytochemical composition, phenolic content, and bioactivities were investigated. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of multiple bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, and glycosides, distributed across different fractions. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that the ethanolic extract contained substantially greater amounts of both total phenolics and flavonoids compared to other extracts (738.43 ± 5.11 mg GAE/g and 98.14 ± 2.13 mg CE/g, respectively). In vitro antioxidant activity, assessed through DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, the ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated the strongest antioxidant effects in every assay. Moreover, ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest antibacterial activity, with the largest inhibition zones against S. aureus (15.25±1.10 mm) and P. aeruginosa (17.75±1.33 mm) and the lowest MIC values (78–156 µg/mL). The ethanol extract exhibited moderate activity, while the hexane, chloroform, and aqueous fractions were less effective, with MICs >625 µg/mL for most strains. The results demonstrate that A. unedo leaf extracts exhibit significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, validating their traditional medicinal applications and suggesting their potential as a natural alternative for therapeutic or preservative purposes.
Ahmet Beyatlı (Mon,) studied this question.
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