Phytochemical composition analysis, antimicrobial activity, and zebrafish toxicity of Leptadenia reticulata leaf extracts

The liquid chromatography in tandem with mass spectrometer analysis of Leptadenia reticulata leaf extracts identified 14 different and 3 common phytochemicals, including bioactive compounds such as isoferulic acid, caffeic acid, and quercetin derivatives, which are known for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In antimicrobial assays, both the aqueous (DB-L2) and methanolic (DB-L1) extracts demonstrated significant growth inhibition across all tested strains, with the aqueous extract showing exceptional potency against Bacillus subtilis, effectively outperforming the standard. Safety evaluations using the zebrafish embryo model revealed that the extracts possess a high safety margin, as no lethal toxicity or significant developmental deformities were observed at concentrations up to 2000 µg/mL.