Phytochemical Landscape of Coleus forskohlii and Its Role in Countering Staphylococcus Species

Staphylococcal meningitis, a severe infection of the meninges, highlights the urgent need for new strategies to combat Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections. In this study, ethanolic leaf extracts of Coleus forskohlii were evaluated for their antibacterial potential against clinical S. aureus isolates associated with meningitis. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified 15 phytochemical compounds, two of which—urs-12-en-28-ol (CID 22213452) and petroselaidic acid (CID 5282754) showed promising binding affinities (−7.5 and −5.9 kcal/mol, respectively) against S. aureus protein (30S ribosomal subunit) in molecular docking studies. In vitro assays confirmed the antibacterial activity of the crude extract, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 62.5 to 125 μg/mL. Disc diffusion and time-kill kinetics further demonstrated concentration-dependent growth inhibition of S. aureus strains. These integrated findings suggest that C. forskohlii-derived compounds are potential antibacterial candidates worthy of further investigation. However, comprehensive in vivo studies are essential to evaluate their efficacy, safety, and therapeutic potential specifically against S. aureus-induced meningitis.