Abstract

Ferruginol is a diterpene phenol known for its diverse pharmacological properties, including antibacterial, antitumor, antimalarial, and cardioprotective effects. Recently, we detected the ferruginol molecule in various parts of Juniperus procera (J. procera), particularly in the seeds, leaves, and roots. This study aimed to induce ferruginol production using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an elicitor, as well as to isolate and purify ferruginol from J. procera materials. Additionally, the study investigated its biological activity against the human pathogenic bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) and as an antifungal against Candida albicans (C. albicans). The addition of PVA particles (1 µm in size and spherical in shape) to the plant medium significantly increased the biomass of J. procera, along with its phenolic content and ferruginol concentration, compared to untreated plants. Furthermore, the ferruginol molecule was successfully isolated from J. procera materials, and its purity was confirmed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Subsequently, different concentrations of ferruginol were tested against E. coli and C. albicans to evaluate its bioactivity. The recorded results demonstrated that ferruginol exhibits antibacterial and antifungal activity, with inhibition zones increasing as ferruginol concentration increasing. In conclusion, this study highlights the impact of PVA on biomass production and phenolic content in J. procera. Moreover, ferruginol was successfully isolated, and its potential bioactivity against E. coli was evaluated. Future investigations could explore its mechanism of action, effectiveness against other human pathogenic microbes, and potential applications in cancer treatment.