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Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial potential of crude extracts and solvent fractions of Eruca sativa (rocket), a member of the Brassicaceae family widely known for its nutritional and medicinal properties. The plant was extracted using solvents of increasing polarity hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and butanol to isolate bioactive fractions. The antibacterial activity was found using the agar well diffusion method against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis. The results obtained show a wide variation in antibacterial efficacy among the different fractions. Methanol and butanol fractions showed the strongest inhibition of bacteria, with maximum zones of inhibition recorded against B. subtilis (28.98 ± 2.20 mm) and S. aureus (25.76 ± 1.33 mm), comparable to the standard reference antibiotic streptomycin (35.11 ± 1.32 mm). Moderate antibacterial activity was observed in ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions, while hexane showed weak inhibition. E. coli and K. pneumoniae displayed the least susceptibility, highlighting the resistance of Gram-negative bacteria. These findings suggest that E. sativa contains polar bioactive compounds, possibly phenolics and glucosinolates, with significant antibacterial efficacy. The results support the potential of E. sativa as a natural source for developing plant-based antimicrobial agents.