Antimicrobial Activity Screening of Camellia japonica Flowers (var. Carolyn Tuttle) for Potential Drug Development

The escalating global problem of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic microorganisms necessitates the exploration of effective alternatives to combat multi-resistance. Consumer demand for organic products has stimulated research on natural-origin matrices, such as plants, to develop antimicrobial additives. Camellia japonica flowers have demonstrated remarkable biological properties, making them a potential source of bioactive molecules for use as bio-preservatives. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of C. japonica flowers (var. Carolyn Tuttle) against food-related microorganisms using an agar diffusion assay. Extracts were obtained via a conventional and cost-effective maceration method (50 °C, 1 h) using 60% methanol as the solvent. The results revealed significant antimicrobial activity of C. japonica flowers (var. Carolyn Tuttle) against Staphylococcus aureus (10.29 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9.24 mm), and Salmonella enteritidis (6.95 mm). However, they did not exhibit activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Bacillus cereus, unlike other varieties of C. japonica which displayed activity against these microorganisms. In conclusion, C. japonica flowers (var. Carolyn Tuttle) demonstrated potential as antimicrobial agents with promising applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. This research contributes to developing natural and organic additives to combat antimicrobial resistance and meet consumer demands for safer and more sustainable products.