Antibacterial activity of Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) root exudates against urinary tract infection pathogens isolated from pregnant women with gestational diabetes in Tikrit City, Iraq

Ahmad, Riyam Ghany; Al-Baytay, Ayyub J. Abdl-Rahmaan

doi:10.21608/mid.2025.388467.2828

	Antibacterial activity of Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) root exudates against urinary tract infection pathogens isolated from pregnant women with gestational diabetes in Tikrit City, Iraq
Microbes and Infectious Diseases
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 27 July 2025
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.388467.2828
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Authors
Riyam Ghany Ahmad ¹; Ayyub J. Abdl-Rahmaan Al-Baytay²
¹Department of Biology, College of Education for Women, University of Anbar, Anbar, Iraq.
²Biology Department, College of Education for Women, Tikrit University, Tikrit, Iraq.
Abstract
Background: This study investigated the bacterial causes of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pregnant women in Tikrit City and evaluated the antibacterial potential of root exudates from hydroponically grown chili pepper plants (Capsicum annuum). Methods: Between February and June 2024, a total of 76 urine samples were collected from pregnant diabetic women, and 71 bacterial isolates were identified using the VITEK 2 Compact. Results: 93.42% of samples showed bacterial growth. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 40.84%, primarily Escherichia coli (90% resistant to ampicillin) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (98% resistant to ampicillin). Gram-positive bacteria represented 67.61%, predominantly Staphylococcus aureus (85% resistant to chloramphenicol). Root exudates were harvested at a 3 cm root length and tested for antibacterial activity using the disc diffusion method. The exudates exhibited inhibition zones of 14–18 mm for S. aureus and 11–14 mm for P. aeruginosa, in some cases surpassing antibiotics like ampicillin (12 mm). Capsaicin, the primary bioactive compound, was quantified via HPLC with a retention time of ~8 minutes, RSD < 2%, and R² > 0.999. Conclusion: A positive correlation was observed between capsaicin concentration and antibacterial activity, supporting its role as the main active agent. These findings underscore the therapeutic promise of chili root exudates as a plant-based antimicrobial alternative for treating resistant UTI pathogens.
Keywords
Antibiotic; Capsaicin; Gestational; HPLC; Root exudates


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