In vitro assay and GC-MS profiling of Proteus sp.EKWG2I3 isolate obtained from Echinops kebericho Mesfin: A traditional medicinal plant

Endophytic bacteria are a promising source of bioactive compounds valuable to medicine, agriculture, and industrial applications. This study investigates bioactive compounds of EKWG2I3 to evaluate their in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activity against test strains. A healthy root of Echinops kebericho Mesfin medicinal plant was collected for experimental analysis. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed for accurate identification of a single potential isolate. In vitro antibacterial, antioxidant activities, and GC-MS profiling of crude extracts for EKWG2I3 isolate were performed. The potent isolate ( EKWG2I3) obtained from E. kebericho Mesfin clustered with P. mirabilis ATCC 29906 ^T (ACLE01000013) and designated as Proteus sp. EKWG2I3. The results revealed that the crude extract of the Proteus sp.EKWG2I3 isolate showed notable antibacterial activity of (15 ± 0 mm) against E. coli ATCC-25922 ^T . This isolate also exhibited potent free radical scavenging potential with an IC ₅₀ value of 11.98 µg/mL compared to ascorbic acid. Moreover, GC-MS analysis identified methyl phenylacetate (38.49%) and pentanoic acid, methyl ester (12.71%) as major compounds in the extract of Proteus sp.EKWG2I3. This study suggests that Proteus sp.EKWG2I3 isolate associated Echinops kebericho Mesfin could be a potential source of bioactive compounds to combat newly emerged diseases due to drug resistant pathogens.