In vitro Antibacterial and In silico Toxicity Properties of Phytocompounds from Ricinus communis Leaf Extract

Background: The rapid occurrence of multiple drug resistance and adverse side effects of aliphatic medicine threatens human health. Medicinal plants are known to possess phytocompounds with antibacterial activity and less toxic effects. Objective: This study aimed at determining the chemical composition of the methanolic Ricinus communis` leaf extract and evaluate their antibacterial and toxic effects. Methods: R. communis leaves were extracted by acetone, chloroform, ethanol and methanol. The extracts were assessed for antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus (ATCC 10102), Escherichia coli (25922), Staphylococcus aureus (25923) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) using agar-well diffusion and microwell dilution methods. The extracts were screened for alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins and terpenoids. The chemical constituents of the methanolic extract were analysed by gas chromatography – mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). In silico toxicity of the phytocompounds were investigated using PreADMET tool. Results: The methanol extract showed the antibacterial activity against the bacterial strains, with the MIC values of 1.56 mg/mL against B. cereus, 3.13 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL against P. aeruginosa and E. coli. The extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, tannins, terpenoids and saponins. The GC-MS showed phytocompounds namely hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (0.62%), tridecanoic acid (0.76%), pentafluoropropionic acid, nonyl ester (0.85%), 10-octadecanoic acid, methyl ester (2.93%) and cis-vaccenic acid (94.84%). Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester was predicted not to have mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Moreover, all compounds exhibited low inhibitory risks against hERG gene. Conclusion: R. communis leaf extract has potential to be used as a safe source of therapeutic compounds.