An-Najah Staff

Introduction: Nature has been recognized as a rich source of medicinal compounds for hundreds to thousands of years. The aim of this research has been the in vitro study of the biological effects of extract from four different Palestinian plants Coriandrum sativum, Lavander, chamomile and Jasminum fracticums. The antibacterial activity of extracts from Coriandrum sativum, Lavander and Jasminum fracticums were tested using six different type of bacteria ( Klebsiella pneumonia , Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus sabtilus E coli and Pseudomonas), the effects of essential oil extract from both Coriandrum sativum (seeds), Lavander and chamomile (flower) were tested on the smooth muscle contractile activity using organbath system and extract from chamomile was tested for anticoagulant activity Materials and methods Essential oil from Coriandrum sativum, Lavander, and chamomile were prepared using soxlet steam distillation and rotary evaporator. Alcoholic and hot aqueous extract from seeds of Jasminum fracticums was by soaking method. Essential oil was dissolved with DMSO. The five microorganisms of undesignated strain or serotype were isolated from clinical specimens, and identified according to standard diagnostic methods. The inoculums of microorganisms were prepared using 4 h cultured nutrient broth and suspensions were adjusted to 0.5 McFarland standard turbidity. A 3 cm piece of rabbit’s ileum was used in an organ bath, to study the effect of the extracts on muscle contraction. The antibacterial activity was determined by well diffusion method. The anticoagulant effect was tested by applying extract at different concentration to the fresh withdrawn blood and the clotting time was recorded by stop watch. Result Our results show that the concentrated essential oil from Coriandrum sativum has antibacterial activity on all six bacteria except for Klebsiella with maximum inhibition zone of Coriandrum sativum oil (26mm) on Bacillus. Essential oil from lavender show antibacterial effects on Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus, while the extract from Jasminum fracticums has effect on bacillus only which is sensitive even at diluted extract with inhibition zone 30mm for pure extract to 20 mm for diluted 25% extract. Physiological effect of the essential oil of lavender and Coriandrum sativum was tested on smooth muscle and the result also show that the essential oil of lavender and Coriandrum sativum produce inhibitory effect on the smooth muscle contraction which indicate that theses extract are Muscarinic cholinergic blocker specially when the muscarinic receptor were first fully saturated with muscarinic blocker like atropine followed by the extract without wash these extract produce no effect. The anticoagulant of chamomile essential oil was tested and the result show that the extract increase the clotting time of the blood gradually until no clot was formed when 200µl of oil were used with 1 ml of whole blood Conclusion Our results demonstrate the antibacterial and physiological activities of selected Palestinian Plants which is in agreement of the folkloric use in traditional medicine.