Antibacterial, antioxidant and hemolytic properties of Prunus persica leaf extracts against Staphylococcus isolates from dogs of Angola

Canine skin infections are frequently associated with antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus species. The rise in antimicrobial resistance has driven the search for medicinal plants as a source of bioactive compounds. Prunus persica has traditionally been used in the treatment of skin diseases, but its activity against canine staphylococci has been little studied. The present study evaluated the antibacterial, antioxidant, and hemolytic properties of aqueous extracts of Prunus persica leaves against Staphylococcus isolates obtained from dogs in Angola.

An aqueous leaf extract was prepared by decoction. Its antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays; hemolytic activity was assessed using canine erythrocytes; and antibacterial activity was determined using the spot-on-lawn method against 56 staphylococcal isolates. The stability of the extract was evaluated over 90 days at different temperatures (−20 °C, 4 °C, room temperature, 27 °C, and 37 °C). Statistical analysis was performed using SAS® 9.4, employing linear and mixed-effects logistic regression models.

The P. persica leaf extract exhibited high antioxidant activity. DPPH activity reached 104.47% at 20 min and 70.33% at 60 min. ABTS and FRAP activity was 0.42 mM Trolox equivalents and 1.15 mM Fe²⁺ equivalents, respectively. The extract exhibited low hemolytic activity (10.69 ± 6.54%). It exhibited strong inhibitory activity, inhibiting 100% of the 56 tested staphylococcal strains, with 100% of the strains being inhibited after 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity remained stable during 90 days of storage and was not affected by storage temperature.

The aqueous extract of P. persica leaves exhibited antibacterial and antioxidant activity, low hemolytic ability, and temporal and thermal stability. These results highlight its potential for topical formulations against canine skin infections and support future studies on its application as a complementary One Health strategy to reduce antimicrobial use.