Evaluating the antibacterial activity of Pontederia crassipes, an invasive alien plant, against multidrugresistant bacteria using In-vitro and In-silico techniques: a comprehensive review

Pontederia crassipes (water hyacinth), traditionally considered an invasive weed, has shown excellent potential to e xhibit antibacterial activity, despite its environmental threat. Additionally, the escalating prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria poses a significant challenge to public health, as it contributes to increasing the global burden of infectious diseases. This review examines the antibacterial activity of P. crassipes against Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, using laboratory experiments and computational modelling, as it aims to find a solution to both these global threats. The study aims to assess how antibacterial assays, extraction methods, plant parts, and solvents affect antibacterial efficacy. It identifies potential antibacterial compounds, their targets, and their binding ability, providing insights into their viability as a natural alternative against MDR infections. Ethanol extracts of P. crassipes by Soxhlet extraction demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against MDR Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Antibacterial compounds such as Stigmasterol, Octasiloxane, 17-Pentatriacontene, Dibutyl phthalate, and 1-Monolinoleoylglycerol trimethylsilyl ether were identified using computational tools in ethanol leaf extracts of P. crassipes The findings from both in-vitro and in-silico studies in this review collectively highlight the potential of P. crassipes as a source of antimicrobial agents, particularly against challenging MDR bacteria as this evidence is significant for the discovery of novel drugs. Further experimental validation is necessary to explore its potential fully and translate these findings into clinical applications.