Abstract

THE ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANT EXTRACTS AND THEIR SYNERGISTIC EFFECT WITH ANTIBIOTICS

Mohamed M. Jouda*, Tarek Elbashiti, Atef Masad and Mohammed Albayoumi

ABSTRACT

Four medicinal plants, namely Artemisia herba-alba, Lantana camara, Allium sativum and Eucalyptus camaldulensis, were screened for potential antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibacterial activity was determined in aqueous and alcoholic extracts using agar disc diffusion method. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the plant extracts against selected bacteria were assessed using microdilution method. The synergistic effect between plants and extraction of antibiotics was assessed using disk diffusion method. The results of this study showed that ethanolic extracts used against E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were showed antimicrobial and synergistic effect with most antibiotics better than methanolic and aquatic extracts. The results of this study showed that there is a decrease in MIC in case of methanolic extract of E. camaldulensis against E. coli (3.125 mg/ml), and the methanol and aquatic extract of F. sycomorus (leaves) against S. aureus varying from 6.25 to 3.125 mg/ml, and the ethanol extract of E. camaldulensis against P. areuginosa (6.25 mg/ml). Thereby, our results indicate the possibility of using these extracts in the treatment of bacterial infections, and the results of this study was encouraging, despite the need for clinical studies to determine of the real effectiveness and potential toxic effects in vivo. These results was revealed the importance of plant extracts when associated with antibiotic and in control of bacteria.

Keywords: Plant extracts, Synergistic effects, Antimicrobial, Microdilution method.