Antimicrobial and cytotoxic comparative study of different extracts of Omani and Sudanese Gum acacia

Gum acacia, known as Gum Arabic in Oman is widely grown all over the tropical countries including Gulf region. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of different polarity organic extracts of Omani and Sudanese Gum acacia latex has been investigated in this study using maceration method. Both Omani and Sudanese Gum acacia latex samples were used to prepare different fractions using various organic solvents. The antimicrobial activity of different organic extracts was determined through disc diffusion method against clinically isolated bacterial strains. The isolated pathogenic bacterial strain are Gram (+) Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, Code No. 659), Gram (−) Escherichia coli (E. coli, Code No. 846), Gram (−) Escherichia coli (E. coli, Code No. 683) and Gram (−) Klebsiella pneumoniae (Code No. 684). The antibiotic levofloxacin and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) were used as positive and negative controls. The cytotoxic activity of the above mentioned organic extracts was determined by brine shrimp lethality method (BSL). Both latex samples of various polarity organic extracts at different concentrations showed antimicrobial activity against the isolated human bacterial strains with an inhibition range of 0-15 mm. However, both latex samples did not reveal a significant cytotoxic activity at any concentration. In conclusion, the organic extracts from both types of Gum acacia (Omani and Sudanese) represent a good source of natural antibiotic for the treatment of various infectious diseases.