Evaluation of the In Vitro Antibacterial Activities of Rubia Cordifolia Root Extract Against Bacterial Pathogens Associated With Urinary Tract Infections and Its Antioxidant Activity

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections, often caused by various pathogenic microorganisms. The increasing resistance of UTI-causing bacteria to conventional antibiotics has raised concerns, leading to the need for alternative therapeutic agents. Rubia cordifolia , commonly known as Indian madder, is a medicinal plant traditionally used in treating various ailments, including infections. This study investigates the in- vitro anti-bacterial activity of Rubia cordifolia root solvents extract against common UTI-causing bacteria, such as Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus . Methods: The root extract was obtained using different solvents: methanol, hexane, and chloroform. The antibacterial activity of Rubia cordifolia root extracts was assessed against UTI pathogens using the agar well diffusion method and broth dilution methods to determine antimicrobial activity test and minimum inhibitory concentration respectively. Results: The antibacterial activities of methanol solvent extract of Rubia cordifolia revealing significant efficacy, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis with zone of inhibition 18.3±0.87 mm and 15.3±0.58 mm and MIC 7.80mg/ML and 3.91mg/mL respectively. Notably, while the extracts showed moderate effectiveness against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , they exhibited no antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae . The methanol extract proved to be the most effective solvent, outperforming both hexane and chloroform extracts in terms of antibacterial potency. Additionally, the antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH assay, showing potential for further therapeutic applications. Conclusion: The findings from this study demonstrate that Rubia cordifolia root extracts exhibit notable antibacterial activity against several common urinary tract infection (UTI) pathogens and it has potential for further study to serve as source of antibacterial agents.