IN-VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF FRACTIONATED KALANCHOE PINNATA EXTRACTS

Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers., synonym Bryophllum pinnatum, is a medicinal plant widely used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of infections. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of fractionated leaf extracts of K. pinnata against two multidrug-resistant pathogens, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Leaves were collected, authenticated, air-dried, and subjected to ethanol extraction followed by solvent partitioning into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions. Antibacterial activity was assessed using agar well diffusion and agar dilution (macrodilution) techniques. The results of the study revealed that that Kalanchoe pinnata extract is rich in phytochemicals, with myricetin (55.03 mg/L) as the dominant compound, followed by catechin (34.09 mg/L) and mangiferin (5.27 mg/L). Other notable constituents include apigenin (1.71 mg/L), naringin (1.14 mg/L), quercetin (0.46 mg/L), and trace kaempferol (0.027 mg/L), Acinetobacter baumannii showed inhibition zones from 12.67 mm to 27.00 mm, while Klebsiella pneumoniae ranged from 13.33 mm to 27.00 mm, with n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts demonstrating the highest inhibitory effects. In conclusion, the combined phytochemical and antibacterial evidence affirms that K. pinnata is a valuable medicinal plant with broad pharmacological applications. Its bioactive constituents not only justify its ethnomedicinal relevance but also offer strong prospects for future pharmacological exploration, particularly in addressing oxidative stress-related diseases and infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.