An-Najah Staff

Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of 20 Palestinian plant species used in folk medicine were investigated for their antimicrobial activities against five bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one yeast (Candida albicans). The plants showed 90% of antimicrobial activity, with significant difference in activity between the different plants. The most antimicrobially active plants were Phagnalon rupestre and Micromeria nervosa, whereas, the least active plant was Ziziphus spina-christi. Only ten of the tested plant extracts were active against C. albicans, with the most active from M. nervosa and Inula viscosa and the least active from Ruscus aculeatus. Of all extracts the ethanolic extract of M. nervosa was the most active, whereas, the aqueous extract of Phagnalon rupestre was the most active of all aqueous extracts tested. The ethanolic extracts (70%) showed activity against both Gram positive and negative bacteria and 40% of these extracts showed anticandidal activity, whereas, 50% of the aqueous extracts showed antibacterial activity and 20% of these extracts showed anticandidal activity.

Objective To determine the antimicrobial activity of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and to investigate the synergistic effects of this extract combined with ceforuxime against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Methods The inhibitory and bactericidal activities of rosemary ethanol extract, alone and in combination with cefuroxime, were studied.
Results  The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the ethanol extract of rosemary were in the range of 0.39–3.13 mg/mL. The minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were usually equal to or double that MICs. The antimicrobial activity of combinations of the ethanol extract of rosemary and cefuroxime indicated their synergistic effects against all MRSAs.
Conclusions  The present work clearly demonstrates that rosemary has a key role in the elevation of susceptibility to β-lactams.

To assess the clinical utility of the crude ethanolic extract of the leaves of Varthemia iphionoides (Compositae), minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using agar dilution technique. Accordingly, The MICs of of this plant extract ranged from 0.0313-1 mg/ml for three clinical taphylacaccus aureus strains and ATCC strains of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis, whereas Escherichia coli studied in this report was found to exhibit higher MIC value (4 mg/ml). The effect of combinations of ethanolic extract of Varthemia iphionoides and cefotaxime was investigated by means of fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices. Using the FIC indices, synergistic interactions were observed against B. subtilis (ATCC 6633) and S. ureus strains (FIC indices of 0.75-0.875); while combinations against E. coli and S. epidermidis (ATCC 25923) exhibited antagonistic interactions (FIC indices of 2.5 to 16.4). Synergy was confirmed at cefotaxime concentrations corresponding to 1/2 MIC and an ethanol extract concentrations corresponding to 1/4 MIC and lower.

To assess the clinical utility of the crude ethanolic extract of the leaves of Varthemia iphionoides (Compositae), minimal inhibitory concentrations eJ'v1Ies) were determined using agar dilution technique. Accordingly, The MICs of of this plant extract ranged from 0.0313-1 mg/ml for three clinical Staphylacaccus aureus strains and ATCC strains of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis, whereas Escherichia coli studied in this report was fOlUld to exhibit higher 1v1Ie value (4 mg/ml). The effect of combinations of ethanolic extract of Varthemia iphionoides a0nd cefotaxime was investigated by means of fractional inhibitory concentration (FIe) indices. Using the FIe indices, synergistic interactions were observed against B. subtilis (ATCC 6633) and S. aureus strains (FIC indices of 0.75-0.875); while combinations against E. cali and S. epidermidis (ATCC 25923) exhibited antagonistic interactions (FIC indices of 2.5 to 16.4). Synergy was confirmed at cefotaxime concentrations corresponding to 1/2 MIC and an ethanol extract concentrations corresponding to 1/41v1IC and lower.

To assess the clinical utility of the crude ethanolic extract of the leaves of Varthemia iphionoides (Compositae), minimal inhibitory concentrations eJ'v1Ies) were determined using agar dilution technique. Accordingly, The MICs of of this plant extract ranged from 0.0313-1 mg/ml for three clinical Staphylacaccus aureus strains and ATCC strains of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis, whereas Escherichia coli studied in this report was fOlUld to exhibit higher 1v1Ie value (4 mg/ml). The effect of combinations of ethanolic extract of Varthemia iphionoides and cefotaxime was investigated by means of fractional inhibitory concentration (FIe) indices. Using the FIe indices, synergistic interactions were observed against B. subtilis (ATCC 6633) and S. aureus strains (FIC indices of 0.75-0.875); while combinations against E. cali and S. epidermidis (ATCC 25923) exhibited antagonistic interactions (FIC indices of 2.5 to 16.4). Synergy was confirmed at cefotaxime concentrations corresponding to 1/2 MIC and an ethanol extract concentrations corresponding to 1/41v1IC and lower. Key words: Varthemia iphionoides . Medicinal plants . Antibacterial activity . Herb-drug interactions . Plant extracts

Disk diffusion and micro-dilution techniques were used to determine the antibacterial activity of water, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Rhus coriaria ripe berries against five clinical bacterial strains (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 (EHEC), Proteus vulgaris and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633 was used as a reference strain. The zone of inhibition varies depending on bacterial species and type of extract. The average diameter of inhibition zones ranges from 0 to 19 mm, 15 to 25 mm and 15 to 22 mm for water, ethanolic and methanolic extract, respectively. The MIC value of ethanolic extract was 1.25 mg/ml against MRSA, EHEC, P. aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris, while 0.156 mg/ml against B. subtilis. In general these results showed that the antibacterial activity of R. coriaria ripe berries extracts was more effective against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative.

Objective  To determine the antimicrobial activity of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and to investigate the synergistic effects of this extract combined with ceforuxime against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Methods  The inhibitory and bactericidal activities of rosemary ethanol extract, alone and in combination with cefuroxime, were studied.
Results  The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the ethanol extract of rosemary were in the range of 0.39–3.13 mg/mL. The minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were usually equal to or double that MICs. The antimicrobial activity of combinations of the ethanol extract of rosemary and cefuroxime indicated their synergistic effects against all MRSAs.
Conclusions  The present work clearly demonstrates that rosemary has a key role in the elevation of susceptibility to β-lactams.

Objective: To determine the antimicrobial activity of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and to investigate the synergistic effects of this extract combined with ceforuxime against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Methods:The inhibitory and bactericidal activities of rosemary ethanol extract, alone and in combination with cefuroxime, were studied.
Results : The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the ethanol extract of rosemary were in the range of 0.39–3.13 mg/mL. The minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were usually equal to or double that MICs. The antimicrobial activity of combinations of the ethanol extract of rosemary and cefuroxime indicated their synergistic effects against all MRSAs.
Conclusions: The present work clearly demonstrates that rosemary has a key role in the elevation of susceptibility to β-lactams.

Disk diffusion and micro-dilution techniques were used to determine the antibacterial activity of water, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Rhus coriaria ripe berries against five clinical bacterial strains (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 (EHEC), Proteus vulgaris and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633 was used as a reference strain. The zone of inhibition varies depending on bacterial species and type of extract. The average diameter of inhibition zones ranges from 0 to 19 mm, 15 to 25 mm and 15 to 22 mm for water, ethanolic and methanolic extract, respectively. The MIC value of ethanolic extract was 1.25 mg/ml against MRSA, EHEC, P. aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris, while 0.156 mg/ml against B. subtilis. In general these results showed that the antibacterial activity of R. coriaria ripe berries extracts was more effective against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative.