Antibacterial, Antioxidant Effects and GC-MS Analysis of Essential Oils Components of Soursop Seed Oil (Annona muricata)

Abstract

Antibacterial drug resistance remains a global challenge and problem affecting millions of people, causing significant losses of lives. The study aimed to assess the antibacterial and antioxidant effects of Soursop seed oil. The oil was extracted two different solvents using the Soxhlet extraction. The antibacterial activity was determined using the agar well diffusion method. The antioxidant activity was determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Analyses of Phytochemicals using standard methods, the GC-MS analysis was carried out using an Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC system. The chemical characterisation was carried out on the extracted oil. The antibacterial activity of n-hexane oil extract showed effectiveness against S. aureus and E. coli in a concentration dependent manner. The methanol oil extract also inhibited the growth of S. aureus at concentrations of 60 and 90 mg/mL, as compared to the streptomycin standard. The antioxidant activities showed radical scavenging and an improved reducing power effect in a concentration dependent pattern. The GC-MS revealed the presence of essential phytocompounds in the oil. The oil’s acid value of 21.88 mgKOH/g suggesting potential rancidity; saponification value of 108.91 mgKOH/g indicates a high proportion of lower fatty acids. The iodine value of 190 g/100g revealed a high level of unsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial for cardiovascular health. The peroxide value of 0.10 meq O₂/kg indicated minimal oxidative degradation, suggesting good oil stability. The antibacterial activity was attributed to the presence of bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, saponins, and essential oils. In conclusion, the results revealed that Soursop seed oil has antibacterial and antioxidant effects and could be a useful source for a new therapeutic agent.