An-Najah Staff

The aqueous extracts (15 micrograms ml-1 medium) of 22 plants used in folkloric medicine in Palestine were investigated for their antifungal activity and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against nine isolates of Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton violaceum. The extract of the different plant species reduced colony growth of the three dermatophytes by 36 to 100% compared with the control treatment. Antimycotic activity of the extract against the three dermatophytes varied significantly (P < 0.05) between test plants. Extracts of Capparis spinosa and Juglans regia completely prevented growth of M. canis and T. violaceum. The most active extracts (90-100% inhibition) were those of Anagallis arvensis, C. spinosa, J. regia, Pistacia lentiscus and Ruta chalapensis against M. canis; Inula viscosa, J. regia and P. lentiscus against T. mentagrophytes; and Asphodelus luteus, A. arvensis, C. spinosa, Clematis cirrhosa, I. viscosa, J. regia, P. lentiscus, Plumbago europea, Ruscus aculeatus, Retema raetam and Salvia fruticosa against T. violaceum. The MICs of these most active plants ranged from 0.6 to 40 micrograms ml-1. The three dermatophytes differed significantly with regard to their susceptibility to plant extracts. Trichophyton violaceum was the most susceptible being completely inhibited by 50% of the extracts followed by M. canis and T. mentagrophytes which were completely inhibited by only 23 and 14% of the extracts, respectively.

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.

Objective: To evaluate the possible in vitro interaction between ethanolic extracts of Rhus coriaria (R. coriaria) (seed), Sacropoterium spinosum (S. spinosum) (seed), Rosa damascena (R.damascene) (flower) and certain known antimicrobial drugs including oxytetracycline HCl,pweansi ccialrlirnie Gd ,o cuetp ahgaaleinxsint ,3 s ucllfiandicimale sthtroaxiinnse oafs msoudltiiudmru, ga-nrde seinstraonflto xPasceiund. oTmhoisn assy naeerrguyg sintuodsay (P. aeruginosa).
Methods: Evaluation of synergy interaction between plant extracts and antimicrobial agents was carried out using microdilution method.
Results: The results of this satnudd yte ssht oawnetdim thicarto tbhiearle a igse an tdse. cTrehaes em ions tt hien tMerIeCs tiinn gc arsees uolft cwomasb tihnaatt iothne o cf oemthbainnoaltiico np labnett wexeterna cRts.coriaria and these antibiotics, showed a high decrease in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC),and a strong bactericidal activity against these strains.
Conclusions: These results may indicate that combinations between R. coriaria extract and these antibiotics could be useful in fighting emerging drug-resistance P. aeruginosa, which may due to that R. coriaria extract contain natural iunnhdiebriwtoarys wleoardkiinngg tboy t hdeif fiedreenntti fmiceacthioann iosfm tsh eo ra icnthivieb imtinogle ecfuflluesx ppruemsepnst. Nino wR . wceo rhiaarviea .e xFpuerrthimere,n itns vivo experiments are needed to confirm pseudomonal protection.

The antibacterial effects of single and combined plant extracts of water, ethanol and methanol for two nutraceuticals utilized in Palestine were studied against multiple drug resistances Pseudomonas aeruginosa using well diffusion method. These plants are Rhus coriaria and Thymus vulgaris. Combinations of these extracts showed an additive action against this pathogen.