Integrated Evaluation of Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antifungal and Antiproliferative Activities of Syzygium aromaticum

Abstract

Syzygium aromaticum (L.) (clove) is a medicinal plant rich in biologically active phytochemicals with diverse therapeutic applications. The present study aimed to comprehensively evaluate its phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiproliferative activities. Dried flower buds of S. aromaticum were processed to obtain aqueous extracts, which were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for chemical characterization. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated against Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Staphylococcus aureus using standard in vitro assays, followed by in vivo evaluation in Cyprinus carpio challenged with A. hydrophila. Antifungal activity was assessed against Aspergillus flavus and Trichoderma viride. The antiproliferative potential was investigated against HepG2 human liver carcinoma cells using the MTT assay. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, and glycosides. The extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity, achieving 87.15 ± 0.18% DPPH radical scavenging at 100 µg/mL. TLC analysis revealed two major bioactive fractions (Rf 0.42 and 0.91), while FTIR spectra indicated the presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and aromatic functional groups. The extract demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against all tested pathogens and enhanced survival, hematological parameters, lysozyme activity, phagocytic activity, and bacterial agglutination in C. carpio following bacterial challenge. Furthermore, S. aromaticum inhibited the growth of A. flavus and T. viride and exhibited dose-dependent antiproliferative activity against HepG2 cells. The findings demonstrate that Syzygium aromaticum is a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites with potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunostimulatory, and antiproliferative properties. These results support its potential application in pharmaceutical development, functional foods, and aquaculture as a natural alternative to synthetic antimicrobial and therapeutic agents.