To address the rising challenge of resistance to traditional antibiotics and to bolster microbial management in the dominions of food safety and antibiotic effectiveness, recent explorations have been conducted into the bioactive phytochemicals, utilizing eco-friendly methodologies. This study focuses on the potential utility of Rhazya stricta and Azadirachta indica, indigenous plant species of Saudi Arabia, in combatting foodborne bacteria across the pharmaceutical and food sectors. The dried leaf powders of both plants underwent methanol extraction, evaporation via a rotary evaporator, and subsequent dissolving in a 1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution. The bioactive constituents were analyzed through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), revealing a higher presence of bioactive compounds (32 compounds) in A. indica compared to R. stricta (15 compounds). R. stricta’s methanolic extract demonstrated superior efficacy against the tested bacterial strains (Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli) compared to A. indica. These findings were compared against six antibiotics: cefoxitin (FOX), cephalothin (KF), cotrimoxazole (TS), gentamicin (GM), augmentin (AUG), and ampicillin (AP). Furthermore, both plant extracts exhibited inhibitory effects on microbial lipase, amylase, and protease enzymes. In conclusion, further investigations at the molecular and biochemical levels are warranted in future studies to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying the antibacterial efficacy of these naturally occurring plant species.
