Background

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), traditional medicines made from medicinal plants are still beneficial for 80% of the poor world's population.¹ Approximately 374,000 plants are believed to exist overall, compared to 28,187 human-used medicinal species.

Antimicrobial chemicals derived from medicinal plants have the potential to impede the development of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa through distinct processes compared to currently available antimicrobials. This makes them potentially valuable in the therapeutic treatment of resistant microbial strains.

While not as powerful as antibiotics on their own, several of those active compounds can assist overcome antibiotic resistance in bacteria when coupled with other antibiotics. Several of those compounds also exhibit intrinsic antibacterial activity and antibiotic resistance-modifying properties.²

Introduction

The family Meliaceae, which includes mahogany species, is prized for its beautiful hardwood.³ There are over 600 species in the family, spread across about 53 genera.⁴ The main uses for each of these species is as building lumber. Not only is mahogany a reliable wood tree, but it's also widely used in traditional medicine.⁴ S. mahagoni is utilized as a medicinal herb in Malaysia, Indonesia, several African nations, India (Ayurvedic system), and some other countries.⁵

In addition to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and neuropharmacological qualities, S. mahagoni is an antipyretic, bitter tonic, and astringent, and can be used to treat diarrhoea, diabetes, hypertension, malaria, and other conditions.⁵

Importance of antimicrobial properties of mahogany

Herbal treatments are another area to combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance in this day and age. Drug resistance and negative antibiotic side effects have been combated using these products. Phytochemical substances abound in plant extracts, which are also more affordable and safer.⁶ Among the species of mahogany, Swietenia mahagoni (L.), has demonstrated a variety of antibacterial qualities.⁶ 

The plant's excellent medicinal capabilities, which may be utilized to produce natural antibiotics, are attributed to its secondary metabolites. Chemical compounds found in many groups of Meliaceae include triterpenoids (limonoids).⁶ 

Also, S. mahagoni contains phospholipid, volatile oils, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, antraquinones, saponins, terpenoids, and long-chain unsaturated acid among its phytochemicals. 45 limonoids are present in the contents, including

• swietenolide
• swiemahogins A and B
• 2-hydroxy-3-O-tigloylswietenolide
• andirobin
• mexicanolide
• gendunin and phragmalin
• triterpens
• etranortriterpenes
• swietenine dimeric triterpmahonienoid and chlorogenic acid
• swietenine acetate
• 3,6-di-0-acetylswietenolide
• 3-0-tigloylswietenolide
• 6-acetyl-3-tigloylswietenolide
• 2-α-hydroxymexioanolide
• and 6-acetylswietenine⁵

All the species of Mahogany in one way or another other have some antimicrobial activity. It was discovered that S. macrophylla a specie of mahogany, leaf extracts in aqueous, ethanolic, petroleum ether, and chloroform had antifungal and antibacterial properties against Candida spp. Trichophyton mentogrophytes, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger, as well as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli.

Another study looked at the antibacterial activity of S. mahagoni leaf extracts in aqueous and other solvents against pathogenic microorganisms. It was discovered that the methanolic extract was more effective against A. niger, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, B. subtilis, and Candida albicans. Extracted volatile oils from S. macrophylla seeds were shown to have antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium. The antifungal properties of triterpenoids (B, -secolimonoids) from S. mahagani and Khaya senegalensis were investigated.⁶

Mahogany seeds contain saponins that play a significant part in hindering microorganisms. Additionally, the antimicrobial flavonoids in mahogany seed extract allow it to behave as a bacteriostatic and disinfectant that blocks the metabolism of cells.⁷ Flavonoids and saponins found in mahogany seed extract have antimicrobial properties.

The extract has antibacterial qualities because its saponins, at concentrations of 25 and 50 mg/ml, may stop Staphylococcus aureus from growing. Gram (+) bacteria are more actively inhibited by this extract than are gram (-) bacteria and fungi. Antibiotic resistance is greater in gram-negative bacteria and fungi.

The reason for this inefficiency is that saponins cannot pass through the cell membrane of gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli. It is established that whereas flavonoids are more active in preventing the development of Escherichia coli, saponins are more successful in preventing the growth of Staphylococcus aureus.⁷

The significance of antimicrobial activity, particularly in the context of herbal remedies like mahogany, lies in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to public health, making it crucial to explore alternative treatments like medicinal plants with antimicrobial properties. Herbal remedies with antimicrobial activity can offer a natural and potentially effective way to combat bacterial infections without contributing to the growing issue of antibiotic resistance.²

Understanding the mechanisms of action of antimicrobial agents, such as those found in mahogany, can provide insights into how these natural compounds can inhibit bacterial growth and potentially serve as alternatives or complements to conventional antibiotics. By exploring the antimicrobial properties of plants like mahogany, researchers aim to discover new treatments that can help address the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance and contribute to the development of novel therapeutic options.

Using the disk diffusion method, the antibacterial activity of S. mahogany seeds oil was assessed against S. typhi, S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and E. coli. The results demonstrated the oils' incredibly wide antibacterial activity against the test organisms. For S. aureus, S. typhi, and S. pneumoniae, the zones of inhibition of the oils with concentrations ranging from 10 to 1000 µg/ml were 4 to 10, 3 to 19, and 4 to 10 mm, but E. coli showed no inhibition zones and was entirely resistant to the oils. the light of these findings. It may be stated that among the studied organisms, S. typhi is the most susceptible to these oils while E. Coli is the most resistant.⁸

Summary

Herbal treatments are another area to combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance in this day and age due to their phytochemical contents. The advantages of herbal medicines are the fewer side effects have been combated using these products and low antibiotic resistance. 

In addition to the antibacterial activities of mahogany species, it also possesses anti-inflammatory, and neuropharmacological qualities. It can also be used in other ranges of agents including as an antipyretic, bitter tonic, and astringent, and can be used to treat diarrhoea, diabetes, hypertension, malaria, and other conditions. 

The species of mahogany can also be employed in the antiseptic-making industry.